Unbowed Nancy does not fear the sack however the Parkhead faithful display fury following derby defeat.

Wilfried Nancy insisted he was not afraid of losing his job, maintaining, “The team is extremely close to changing our fortunes,” in the wake of edging perilously close to the exit with a convincing setback against the Ibrox side.

A Second-Half Collapse Results in Old Firm Disaster

Celtic were in front Rangers at half-time but a second-half capitulation let Danny Röhl’s team to pull level on points with the defending league title holders. The former MLS manager, who was brought in from Columbus Crew, has now been in charge for six defeats in his last eight matches.

“The board and I are united at the club,” said the manager.

Questioned about whether he was concerned, he responded: “It’s not on my mind. I concentrate on working out methods to help my team to excel on small moments.

Fan Fury On Display

Hundreds of supporters made their feelings clear – towards the board and manager – in their hundreds at Parkhead. The hierarchy are thought to be considering to return to Martin O’Neill, who steered the club during a temporary stint before Nancy was hired, if Nancy departs.

“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. So this is the reality for the moment. But when I say this is the reality, that is not a sign that I am a defeatist guy. Absolutely not. My point is we are on the cusp, imminently close to turn things around.”

Focus on the Details

Nancy remains focused on the fact Celtic play well for 45 minutes at a time. For instance, if not for wastefulness in front of goal they could have been greater than 1-0 up. “I saw enough aside from the fact that we missed a second goal,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but it's important to stay balanced.

“The level we had at stages was of top quality. That happened. And I would not speak so positively if it was untrue. But that’s why, in terms of results, I noted it's a repeating pattern. For that reason I feel we are really close to things turning around. Currently: details, details, details.”

“There were a lot of encouraging signs that we did, like today again. The issue now comes down to sustaining it. My outlook would not be if it was not the case. That’s why I am convinced we will manage to get back on track.”

Röhl’s Cautious Outlook

Rangers manager was cautious about a title charge in spite of what felt like a landmark win. “One match at a time, and we can develop momentum,” he said. “The faith in the team is immense.”

Daniel Carter
Daniel Carter

A tech strategist and digital innovation consultant with over a decade of experience in transforming businesses through cutting-edge solutions.