Bullish Wilfried Nancy insists he is not worried about being fired yet Celtic fans display anger following defeat.
The Celtic boss stated he did not fear the sack, asserting, “I believe we are very near to things turning around,” even after edging perilously close to being fired with a convincing defeat by Rangers.
Another Capitulation Sees Old Firm Loss
The home side were in front the visitors at the interval but a disastrous second period allowed the Gers to pull level on points with the defending league title holders. The former MLS manager, who was appointed from Columbus Crew, has now overseen six losses in eight matches.
“There is unity at the club,” said Nancy.
Pressed on the speculation, he said: “It’s not on my mind. I concentrate on finding ways to get the team to excel on details.
Protest Erupts
Celtic’s support made their feelings clear – directed at the board and manager – by protesting at full time. The hierarchy would be most likely to return to the former boss, who enjoyed a successful temporary stint before Nancy was hired, should a change be made.
“Wins and losses [that leads to pressure]. That is the reality for the moment. However in stating that’s how it is, I am not saying that I am giving up. No. My point is the turnaround is near, really, really close to reverse our form.”
Nancy’s Persistent Belief
The coach highlights the fact Celtic play well for 45 minutes at a time. In fact, were it not for poor finishing they could have been greater than 1-0 up. “I saw enough other than the fact that we haven’t scored more goals,” he said. “I acknowledge that we lost, but it's important to stay fair.
“The performance we had at stages was of top quality. This is the reality. And I would not speak so positively if it was untrue. That is the reason, regarding outcomes, I mentioned it's a repeating pattern. For that reason I feel we are really close to a shift in fortunes. But for the moment: details, details, details.”
“I saw many, many good things that we did, as was the case today. But now it’s about consistency. My narrative would be different if I didn't believe it. That’s why I am convinced the team can to fix this.”
Opposition Reaction Stance
The victorious boss played down talk of a serious challenge even after what seemed like a landmark win. “One match at a time, so we can really build up momentum,” he said. “The belief in the group is excellent.”