A visibly animated Wilfried Nancy delivered a passionate defence of his methods at Celtic and urged supporters to give him time during an extraordinary press conference. The under pressure Parkhead boss has come under heavy fire from fans after a poor start to his tenure, losing five of his first seven matches, including a painful Premier Sports Cup Final defeat.
Nancy has already suffered losses to Hearts, Roma, St Mirren, Dundee United and Motherwell and faces a huge task to turn things around. Another setback against Rangers in Saturday’s derby could see Celtic drop to third and fall further behind leaders Hearts. Despite that, Nancy insisted he believes in his work at the club, saying he would give everything for Celtic as he responded to critics during an emotional seven minute address within a much longer media session at Lennoxtown.
Asked whether the constant criticism of his system had made him consider changing approach, Nancy said he reviews everything after every game. He explained that he and his staff analyse each goal conceded to see whether the structure is to blame and believes it has rarely been the issue. He pointed out that many goals have come from set pieces or chaotic moments during transitions when the team has been pushing forward.
He added that there have also been encouraging attacking phases and stressed that results could easily have looked different earlier in the season. While acknowledging that current outcomes are not good enough, Nancy said he sees progress and many elements he likes, which is why he wants to continue in the same direction. He rejected the idea that he plays with a back five, explaining that his approach can involve a back four, back three or even different shapes depending on the situation, and that focusing on labels misses the real point of understanding the concepts.
Nancy also addressed the attention his situation has drawn, even from celebrity supporters, and admitted he has learned just how intense the environment around Celtic can be. He said everyone is entitled to an opinion and accepts criticism because of the results, but believes not everything being built on the outside reflects what is happening within the team.
On whether the last month has been stressful, Nancy admitted he puts pressure on himself but said he knew the nature of the job when he arrived. He added that he is not focused on changing public opinion but on helping the team win matches, believing results will ultimately shape how he is viewed.
Asked about the difficulty of blocking out external noise, Nancy said it is beyond his control and part of the role. He stressed that his focus is on preparing the team, sticking to his football ideas and encouraging his players to show personality on the pitch.
When questioned about whether defeat against Rangers could put his job at risk, Nancy refused to engage with speculation, describing it as a matter of perception that does not distract him from his work. He confirmed he has spoken with the board and feels supported, while also asking for patience in a job where patience is often limited.
Nancy explained that he arrived mid season, knowing it would be challenging, and believes confusion among players at times is normal during a period of change. He admitted he dislikes hiding behind the word process but said development takes time. He encouraged critics to analyse the performances in full rather than relying on assumptions, insisting he knows where the team is heading even if results have not yet followed.
He said his ambition is to win trophies, create memories and leave a lasting legacy at Celtic, adding that he would give everything for the club. Nancy acknowledged the frustration of seeing players not yet fully ready to execute certain ideas, but stressed that understanding and consistency will come with time.
He also spoke about the unique pressure in Glasgow, where anything other than winning brings intense reaction. Nancy said he understands the culture and the disappointment among supporters, especially as he took over after a period of success, but asked for trust as he works to restore consistency.
Finally, when asked how long fans should wait and whether second place is acceptable, Nancy clarified that he never suggested it was good enough. He said time in football can only be earned through victories and that he knows results are the only way to buy patience. All he could promise, he said, is daily hard work and a commitment to improvement, knowing that winning matches is ultimately the only true answer.