Bullish Wilfried Nancy insists he is not worried about being fired however the Parkhead faithful unleash wrath following defeat.
The Celtic boss declared he had no concerns about losing his job, asserting, “The team is really close to changing our fortunes,” despite edging perilously close to the exit with a comprehensive defeat by their arch-rivals.
A Second-Half Collapse Leads to Derby Loss
Celtic were ahead their oldest rivals at the break but a collapse after the break enabled Danny Röhl’s team to draw level on points with the current league title holders. The former MLS manager, who was hired in December, has now been in charge for six defeats in eight fixtures.
“There is unity at the club,” insisted Nancy.
Questioned about the speculation, the 48-year-old replied: “I don’t think about it. I think about finding ways to help my team to be good on details.
Fan Fury Erupts
The fans voiced their fury – towards the board and manager – by gathering at full time. Club directors are thought to be considering to return to the interim manager, who steered the club during a interim spell before Nancy was hired, if Nancy departs.
“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. That is the reality for the moment. But by saying that’s how it is, that is not a sign that I am giving up. No. The message is the turnaround is near, extremely close to turn things around.”
Nancy’s Persistent Belief
He continues to cling to the fact his team can perform strongly for a half at a time. For instance, 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 our chances,” he said. “I acknowledge that we lost, but it's important to stay balanced.
“The level we had at times was of top quality. That is a fact. And I would not speak so positively if it was not the case. That is the reason, in terms of results, I mentioned it's a repeating pattern. That’s why I believe a change is coming to getting it right. Right now: small things.”
“I saw a lot of encouraging signs that we did, like today again. However comes down to consistency. My outlook would be different if I didn't believe it. This is why I am a big believer we’re going to be able to fix this.”
Opposition Reaction Outlook
The victorious boss was cautious about a championship push even after what appeared to be a landmark win. “One match at a time, then we can gradually build a challenge,” he said. “The faith in the group is immense.”
