Frenchman insists Old Firm showdown will not define his Celtic future, but doubts continue to grow
Wilfried Nancy insists Saturday’s vital Old Firm clash against Rangers will not define his future as Celtic manager. However, his words are unlikely to reassure supporters as pressure continues to mount.
Unthinkably, defeat at Parkhead would mark Nancy’s sixth loss in eight matches since taking charge. His most recent setback — a 2–0 defeat away to Motherwell — may have been the worst yet. Celtic were second best from start to finish, conceding goals in each half from Ibrahim Said and Elliot Watt, and even Nancy struggled to find positives.
Fragile Momentum After Motherwell Setback
Any optimism generated by recent back-to-back wins over Aberdeen and Livingston quickly unravelled at Fir Park. With Rangers able to draw level on points with a win this weekend, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Meanwhile, Hearts remain three points clear at the top, having played the same number of matches as Celtic.
Asked about the significance of the Rangers game, Nancy played down its impact on his own position.
“Each game for me is important and for the team is important,” he said.
“I don’t think about my future. I think about what I do now and what I need to do to improve the team.”
January Recruitment Seen as a Turning Point
Nancy stressed that January reinforcements cannot come soon enough, with the manager expecting backing to overhaul the squad.
“We are working on that,” he said when asked about recruitment. “This is the idea.”
Even so, doubts about his long-term future have resurfaced sharply. While the noise around his position had briefly eased, the manner of the Motherwell defeat felt like a significant regression.
“A Tough Night” — Nancy Reflects on Motherwell Loss
Nancy admitted Celtic struggled badly against a well-organised Motherwell side under Jens Berthel Askou.
“It was a tough night. We faced a good team, who are collectively really good,” he said.
He pointed to uncertainty in pressing and d
effensive organisation during the first half, while acknowledging Celtic failed to create meaningful chances.
“We lost the first goal from a throw-in and a cross. We can do better on that one. We did not create much.”
He felt the team improved after the break but still lacked cutting edge.
“In the second half we were more collective… but it was difficult to score.”
Planned Substitutions and Fitness Concerns
Nancy revealed that the half-time substitutions of Kieran Tierney and Daizen Maeda, along with Paulo Bernardo, had been planned in advance.
“It was planned. They were tired. They have run a lot… I do not want them to be injured.”
Confidence Remains — But Words Feel Hollow
Reminded that he has now lost five of his first seven matches since arriving from Columbus Crew, Nancy remained publicly confident.
“I’m confident about where we want to go… I think that we’re going to get better.”
Yet his tone felt almost defeatist, as though losing at Motherwell was not the major setback it clearly was — particularly given that Motherwell had not beaten Celtic at home since 2013.
Budget Reality and Underdog Mentality
When questioned about Motherwell’s vastly smaller budget, Nancy acknowledged the disparity but leaned heavily on context.
“I understand that… But this is the reality.”
He added:
“I’m not saying that I’m not an underdog… For this game, we didn’t have a good game.”
While pragmatic, the response did little to calm growing unrest among the support.
Old Firm Pressure Reaches Boiling Point
The reality is stark: Celtic could drop to third place if they lose heavily to Rangers. Fan frustration is already high, and another poor performance would push toxicity to new levels.
Asked if he saw progress against Motherwell, Nancy struggled to point to convincing evidence.
“There was a moment… But again, this is not enough.”
Ready for the Old Firm — At Least in Words
Nancy insisted he understands the enormity of his first Old Firm match.
“It’s a rivalry. Celtic against Rangers. I know what it means.”
He promised passion and proper preparation, and when asked if it was a must-win game, he agreed.
But Celtic have already faced several “mu
st-win” moments this season — including a cup final defeat to St Mirren — where failure felt unthinkable.
And now, with Rangers coming to Parkhead, the margin for error has vanished.
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