Bullish Wilfried Nancy shows no fear of being fired but Celtic fans show fury after loss.

The under-pressure manager insisted he did not fear dismissal, claiming, “The team is very near to things turning around,” in the wake of sliding worryingly close to the exit with a convincing defeat by their arch-rivals.

A Second-Half Meltdown Sees Old Firm Disaster

Celtic were ahead Rangers at the break but a collapse after the break let Rangers to move level on points with the current league title holders. The former MLS manager, who was brought in from Columbus Crew, has now presided over six defeats in his first eight matches.

“There is unity with the board,” stated the manager.

Pressed on his own future, he said: “It’s not on my mind. I think about working out methods to get the team to excel on small moments.

Protest Outside Parkhead

Hundreds of supporters displayed their anger – aimed at the board and manager – by gathering outside the stadium. The board are thought to be considering to re-appoint Martin O’Neill, who steered the club during a temporary stint before Nancy was hired, should a change be made.

“The outcomes [that leads to pressure]. And that’s the situation for the moment. But when I say that’s how it is, it doesn’t mean that I am pessimistic. Not at all. What I mean we are really close, really, really close to reverse our form.”

Focus on the Details

Nancy continues to cling to the fact Celtic show good levels for a half at a time. For instance, but for wastefulness in front of goal they would have been greater than 1-0 up. “I saw enough other than the fact that we missed a second goal,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but I must remain fair.

“The level we had at stages was really, really, really high. This is the reality. I could not say that if it was not the case. Therefore, in terms of results, I said this is the same story. Which is why I believe we are nearly there to getting it right. Right now: the fine margins.”

“There were plenty of positives that we did, like today again. However comes down to consistency. My message would change if it was not the case. Therefore I am a big believer we’re going to be able to turn things around.”

Opposition Reaction Outlook

The victorious boss played down talk of a serious challenge in spite of what seemed like a landmark win. “We take it game by game, so we can gradually build something here,” he said. “The faith in the group is outstanding.”

Susan Thomas
Susan Thomas

A seasoned bridge champion with over 20 years of competitive play, specializing in bidding systems and defensive tactics.