Wilfried Nancy, just weeks into his tenure as Celtic manager, has wasted no time laying out his vision for Kieran Tierney—a player whose return to Parkhead in the summer was met with jubilation from the green-and-white faithful. Yet, as the Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren looms, Nancy's challenge to Tierney is clear: play with freedom, shed self-imposed limitations, and step up as a leader for a side hungry for silverware.
Tierney, now 28, arrived back in Glasgow on a free transfer, marking a homecoming that reignited hope among supporters. His pedigree, shaped by stints at Arsenal and with the Scotland national team, is undeniable. But Nancy, a keen student of the game and a manager who prizes both tactical nuance and player psychology, believes Tierney has even more to offer—if only he can break out of his comfort zone.
"He has really, really good qualities, and I challenge him to play with more freedom," Nancy told RecordSport, his words echoing across multiple interviews in the days leading up to the final. "I think that he has a really, really good level. But sometimes he puts a bit of limitation and this is something that we've been talking about—to be open and to play with relief. It's really important for us, the way he plays, his leadership. So the idea is to give him all the tools to be good."
It’s not just talk. Tierney has been a standout in Nancy’s opening two games in charge, slotting into the left-sided centre-back role in a back three—a position he’s comfortable with from his time playing for Scotland alongside Andy Robertson. Still, Nancy wants more. He’s urging Tierney to take risks, especially on the defensive end, and to embrace the kind of attacking abandon that once saw him score a 93rd-minute wonder goal at Hampden Park to send Scotland to the World Cup.
“Yeah, freedom and also because defensively sometimes I want him to try more things. He has the level to do it and he does it, but I would like him to do it more often,” Nancy explained. The manager’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that Tierney’s leadership, both on and off the pitch, is crucial to Celtic’s ambitions—not just for today’s final, but for the season ahead.
Tierney’s leadership status is not in question. Nancy regards him as a key member of the club’s leadership group, a player whose experience and attitude can help guide a squad still adjusting to the Frenchman’s methods. “The way he plays, his leadership… it’s really important for us,” Nancy emphasized. “So the idea is to give him all the tools to be good.”
Yet, the journey has not been without its bumps. Tierney was substituted at half-time in Thursday’s Europa League match against Roma, where he was left exposed defensively—partly due to the absence of protection from Sebastian Tounekti at wing-back. The result was a humbling defeat that underscored both the challenges facing Nancy and the need for quick adaptation. Still, the manager is undeterred, and Tierney is expected to start again at Hampden, this time with a chance to put recent setbacks behind him on a stage where he’s already made history.
The Cup final comes at a pivotal moment for both player and manager. Nancy, who left the relative comfort of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer after delivering silverware, has become the first Celtic boss to lose his first two games in charge—a statistic he’s keen to erase from memory. “Yes, for sure. We had an open discussion. I followed the club for many years and I like to watch many games. So I knew that the challenge could be difficult. After that, the club also knew that. So that's why we are on the same page,” Nancy told assembled media, reflecting on the scale of the task he’s inherited.
He continued, “But I really believe that really good things will happen. Because I see every day the attitude of everyone. Again, I know where I am. I know the standing of the club. I know the fans. I know the desire of people to play, to win trophies and so on. But to be honest, this is what I want too. So that's why I'm here.”
For Tierney, the opportunity to lead by example couldn’t come at a better time. With Tounekti away on Africa Cup of Nations duty, the defensive setup will likely see Kelechi Iheanacho—now back fit—make a return, while Daizen Maeda could step into a more advanced role ahead of Tierney. The tactical tweaks are a reflection of both necessity and Nancy’s willingness to trust his squad’s depth.
Speaking on his approach to squad management, Nancy said, “I like to use rotation. It's been proven that all the teams who won titles, the numbers of players that they use, the maximum is between 14 and 18-ish. So now, the other players are also really important. And for me, the way I see the subs, they are not sub-players. They are solutions. They are really important because I can keep the level or raise the level when they come in. So that's why I don't like to have a big squad because after that it could be difficult. The objective is that we don't win the game with 11 players. We win the game with 16, 17, 18 players.”
This philosophy has already been put to the test. Against Roma, Colby Donovan, Paulo Bernardo, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Michel-Ange Balikwisha all came off the bench to help steady the ship. With a packed December schedule and the club chasing the league leaders, Nancy’s insistence on collective responsibility is more than just rhetoric—it’s a necessity.
As for Tierney, the message from his manager is unmistakable: the time to step up is now. Nancy’s public encouragement isn’t just about coaxing better performances; it’s about empowering one of Celtic’s most talented and beloved players to take ownership of his role and inspire those around him. The stakes are high, the expectations higher still, but the belief within the camp remains unshaken.
With the Premier Sports Cup final upon them, all eyes will be on Tierney and his teammates as they look to deliver the club’s first trophy of the season and kickstart the Wilfried Nancy era with a statement of intent. Whether it’s the liberation of Tierney’s play or the unity of a squad embracing new ideas, Celtic’s next chapter is being written in real time—and the outcome, for now, hangs in the balance.
As the action at Hampden unfolds, Nancy’s faith in Tierney and his squad will be put to the ultimate test. One thing’s for sure: the story of Celtic’s season is far from over, and today’s final could well be the spark that ignites a new era of ambition and achievement in Glasgow’s East End.
