Wilfried Nancy’s first weeks as Celtic manager have been anything but smooth, as the Frenchman finds himself under intense scrutiny ahead of the much-anticipated derby clash with Rangers this weekend. Appointed after Brendan Rodgers’ departure, Nancy arrived from Columbus Crew with a mixed reputation—some supporters lauded his MLS Cup and Leagues Cup triumphs, while others questioned whether those accomplishments truly translated to the demands of Scottish football.
From the outset, Nancy’s tenure has been mired in skepticism. Many Celtic fans felt underwhelmed by his resume, pointing out that his achievements in the United States paled in comparison to the standards set by his predecessors. “Arrogant and delusional. It just doesn’t stack up. Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney didn’t have a preseason and won the majority of their games,” wrote one frustrated supporter, echoing a sentiment that has only grown louder after a string of poor results.
Indeed, the numbers are stark. As of early January 2026, Nancy has lost five out of his first seven games in charge—a record that has left Celtic languishing and the fanbase restless. The pressure reached a boiling point following a dispiriting 2-0 defeat at Motherwell, a match that saw the team outplayed and outpassed, their defense conceding goals with alarming regularity. In just seven matches, Celtic have shipped 15 goals, failing to keep a single clean sheet.
Yet, Nancy has refused to shy away from the criticism. In a defiant press conference on January 2, just a day before the crucial derby, he offered a candid assessment of the situation. “This is only the beginning. Usually, we have four weeks of pre-season. I did not have pre-season. Before I came, I knew that if I don’t win games I am going to be in trouble because this is part of the job. But I am pleased to be here. I know where we are now. I am not an underdog,” Nancy declared, as reported by The Guardian.
He continued, “In context, I knew this kind of situation could happen. I need time. Give me time and you will see my team. You are going to see what I am going to do because you can see already what I did before.” Despite these appeals for patience, many remain unconvinced. Nancy’s insistence that his 3-4-3 system isn’t to blame for the defensive woes has particularly drawn ire. “I have a look at all the goals that we conceded, and you are going to tell me this is about the system? The only moment when we had an issue with the system is when we played against Roma, the second goal. But, after that, it was not about the system. All the other goals we conceded were because we had many players inside the box and sometimes it was a ping pong game in transition.”
For observers like pundit Michael Stewart, these explanations ring hollow. Stewart, in a fiery Sportsound segment, didn’t mince words: “Motherwell were outstanding. It was the polar opposite of the scale in terms of a side that had clarity from the manager, execution was perfect, to a side that has a manager that in his interview on Friday says he can't talk but then does one answer for seven minutes. Talks about having clarity, talks about being clear in what he wants yet on the park you've got a team that look the polar opposite of Motherwell. A side that do not know what is expected of them.”
Stewart went further, suggesting that not only Nancy but the entire hiring team at Celtic should be shown the door. “That Wilfried Nancy is a busted flush, should never have had the job in the first place, is so far out of his depth, and every single person that was involved in bringing him to Celtic should be shown the door as well. Rangers at the start of the season made a monumental mistake on a number of fronts and credit to the hierarchy there, because they bit the bullet and they made a change and they did it quickly. Not just the manager, the director of football, the whole thing. Things that were unprecedented.”
Such criticism has only intensified as the derby approaches. For many, the match against Rangers represents a potential last stand for Nancy. If Celtic cannot muster a turnaround, the calls for change may become irresistible. Nancy, for his part, remains adamant that time will vindicate his methods. “If you do your job, you’re going to be able to see what I did in the past. And the way I play, what I want to do, the way I want to defend, the way I want to attack, it is clear. Obviously, people and fans are not happy. And me, too, I am not happy, because I see only a few glimpses of what I want to do. But I am pleased with that, too, because this is only 12 or 13 sessions that we did. This is the context. Usually, we have four weeks of pre-season. So, it is totally normal that you guys kill me. I’m totally fine with that because I know where I want to go.”
Still, the reality on the pitch tells a different story. Celtic’s players have looked confused and disjointed, struggling to adapt to Nancy’s tactical demands. The lack of a pre-season has been cited as a mitigating factor, but as critics point out, other managers have succeeded under similar circumstances. Martin O’Neill, for instance, managed to win seven out of eight games during his interim spell without the benefit of extended preparation.
Adding to the turbulence, Nancy’s public comments have been met with skepticism. While he insists he is not a “three-at-the-back guy,” his tactical choices suggest otherwise. “Judge me, no problem,” he said. “But have a look, analyse all of the games that we played if we should have won or lost the game. Do it! Because this is your job. For the moment, I cannot talk. I shut my mouth because results aren’t good enough. But I know where we are going. After that, if it is going to work or not, I don’t know. But I know we are going to do everything to do it. I am here for that. After that, yes, I want to win every game. Yes, I want to win titles for Celtic. Yes, I want to create memories and a legacy here. Yes, I am going to die for this club, for sure.”
As the derby looms, the sense of urgency is palpable. Nancy has acknowledged, “People have the right to not be happy. I understand that. I cannot buy time in my job. The only moment to buy time is when we win games. I know that. We have to win games.”
With Celtic’s board standing by their man—at least for now—and Nancy pleading for patience, all eyes turn to the weekend’s showdown with Rangers. It’s a moment of truth for Nancy and for Celtic, a club that finds itself at a crossroads. Whether this is the beginning of a turnaround or the end of a short-lived era will be shaped in the heat of derby battle.
