Pressure is mounting at Parkhead as Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy prepares for his first Old Firm derby, with the club’s fortunes hanging in the balance and supporters demanding answers. Just over four weeks after being named permanent boss, Nancy faces the unenviable task of steadying a team that has stumbled through a patchy run of results, with five losses in his first seven matches. The mood among the Celtic faithful is tense, with anger palpable in recent fixtures and questions swirling about the club’s direction both on and off the pitch.
Nancy’s appointment came at a time of turbulence for Celtic. The club was still reeling from Brendan Rodgers’ abrupt resignation in late October, an exit that was publicly criticized by major shareholder Dermot Desmond as “divisive, misleading, and self-serving.” Martin O’Neill, a club legend, briefly stepped in and managed to win seven of eight matches, sparking a flicker of optimism. But Nancy’s arrival signaled a fresh start — or so it was hoped. He immediately set about implementing his own 3-4-3 tactical system, replacing O’Neill’s favored 4-3-3. Yet, the transition has been anything but smooth.
Celtic’s recent record speaks volumes. Losses to Hearts, Dundee United, Roma in the Europa League, and St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final have left the team trailing three points behind league leaders Hearts. Even back-to-back league victories against Aberdeen and Livingston offered only a brief respite before a sobering 2-0 defeat to Motherwell reignited frustration among supporters. Heading into the crucial derby against Rangers, the stakes could hardly be higher. With Rangers poised to draw level on points with Celtic should they win at Parkhead, Nancy’s tenure is under intense scrutiny.
In a remarkable 25-minute press conference ahead of the derby, Nancy launched a heartfelt defense of his methods and his players, acknowledging the pressure but urging for patience. “I know your job is to attack me, or to ask a lot of questions, no problem with that,” Nancy told reporters. “My job is to be a coach, your job is to ask questions. If you want to judge me now, you can do it. I didn’t have the results we wanted – it’s a fact, I cannot deny that.”
He conceded that the lack of a proper pre-season — “Usually, we have four or five weeks of pre-season. I didn’t have that,” he explained — has hampered his ability to embed his philosophy. Nancy emphasized that he was fully aware of the risks when he accepted the role: “The reality is, before I came, I knew if I didn’t win games, I was going to be in trouble. This is part of the job. I’m pleased to be here and I know where we are now.”
The manager’s candor extended to his tactical approach and the team’s struggles. “Have a look at the way I am as a coach, as a manager, and what I want to bring and you will see we are not there yet,” he admitted. Nancy is adamant that the team’s defensive woes are not down to his preferred system, noting, “I analyse what we can do, have a look at all the goals we conceded and if this is about the system. I did it and this is not the case. We concede a lot of goals on set-piece. The only moment when we had an issue with the system – and this is something normal – is the second goal against Roma.”
He also bristled at suggestions that he’s wedded to a back five, stating, “I want you to understand that I don’t play with a back five. So this is useless to talk about this. I don’t play with a back five. The way we defend most of the time this is a back four, or it could be a back three. When you play the back four, sometimes you can have a back five or back six, so for me this is useless to talk about that. I never said that I am a back-five guy. I never said that. I play with a back four. I play with a back three. I play with a back two. This is only the beginning. I want to see certain things and after that I will analyse.”
Off the pitch, Celtic’s leadership is also under the microscope. The club has moved to bolster its recruitment department by bringing in James Bell-Walker, formerly Chelsea’s Senior International Scout, in a bid to improve talent identification and address failings in previous transfer windows. Bell-Walker’s arrival comes after the departure of Jay Lefevre to Swansea City, and amidst criticism of Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale for the club’s summer dealings. Bell-Walker’s impressive resume — with stints at Bolton Wanderers and Everton — has raised hopes that Celtic’s scouting operation will become more robust and proactive.
January’s transfer activity has already seen Bournemouth defender Julian Araujo arrive on loan, with further pursuits ongoing for Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi and Uruguayan wide man Nacho Laquintana. The club is also reportedly seeking to add two strikers before the window closes, a sign of intent to address attacking deficiencies that have plagued the squad since the Champions League exit to Kairat Almaty. In a recent financial statement, the club’s leadership acknowledged, “This year, regretfully we did not achieve all of our objectives in the transfer window. We share and understand our supporters’ disappointment and frustration, and we will continue to seek to review and improve our strategy and execution as the market continues to evolve.”
Meanwhile, the fates of former Celtic players serve as a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of football careers. Bosun Lawal, sold to Stoke City for £2 million plus add-ons after failing to impress Brendan Rodgers, is now flourishing in the EFL Championship. After an injury-hit debut season, the 22-year-old has become a mainstay under Mark Robins, delivering a man-of-the-match performance in Stoke’s 1-0 win at Hull City. Lawal’s emergence as a midfield force has led to calls for his inclusion in the Republic of Ireland squad, especially with Josh Cullen sidelined. As one observer put it, “He was brilliant in every aspect – in possession, out of possession, using his physicality, stature and outstanding technical ability to completely control the midfield against a very good side.”
In contrast, Kyogo — a marquee £10 million signing for Birmingham City and once a Celtic fan favorite — has struggled to find the net in 22 Championship appearances this season, his only goal coming in an EFL Cup tie back in September. Despite his barren spell, Birmingham fans have shown remarkable patience and support, with one fan noting, “Just watch Kyogo with his movement up top. He lives on the shoulder of the defenders but we do nothing to exploit it. The constant moving and runs he makes only for us to go back or sideways. No wonder he’s frustrated, just play the ball to him.”
As the Old Firm derby looms, the sense of anticipation is palpable. For Wilfried Nancy, a positive result could silence critics and reignite Celtic’s title challenge. For the club’s hierarchy, the coming weeks offer a chance to restore faith through shrewd recruitment and strategic clarity. The next chapter at Parkhead is about to be written — and every pass, tackle, and decision will be under the microscope.