Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy has issued a defiant message, stating he has 'nothing to prove' to his critics, despite presiding over the worst start by any boss in the Glasgow club's storied history.
A Torrid Start Under New Management
The French coach, 48, finds himself under immense pressure after losing all three of his opening matches in charge. Since taking the reins just over a week ago, Celtic have suffered defeats to Hearts, Roma, and St Mirren. The League Cup final loss to St Mirren sparked particular fury among supporters, who are now openly questioning his long-term suitability for the role.
Nancy will lead his team to Tannadice on Wednesday night to face Dundee United, desperately seeking a victory that could buy him crucial time. However, the former Columbus Crew manager remains outwardly unruffled by the mounting criticism.
Nancy's Defiant Stance on Criticism
'I don't have to prove anything for anybody. Simple as that,' Nancy declared. He acknowledged he was aware the situation could be difficult, especially as the first coach to arrive mid-season for everyone at the club. 'I knew that it could be a lot of adversity. But, again, I'm really happy to be here and I do my job as best as I can.'
Describing the fan and media reaction as a 'normal reaction', Nancy revealed he tries to shield himself from the noise. 'The only thing that I know is I receive a lot of messages from my family to ask me if I'm OK,' he said. 'So it means that maybe I get killed, but it's OK.'
He expressed gratitude for the support from the Celtic hierarchy, stating: 'They know why I am here, they protect me, they know what I want to do for the club. They know where we are at this moment and we knew this moment could happen.'
Tactical Stubbornness and a Testing Fixture List
Nancy has faced backlash for swiftly implementing a new formation after just two days of training and stubbornly sticking with it through the three consecutive losses. He appears unlikely to change his approach for the Dundee United match, arguing his tactics are 'not rocket science'.
'I'm here to find a way to help my players to play together offensively and defensively,' he explained. 'It's totally normal that people criticise me... because I don't win. But I'm going beyond winning. It's about character, it's about personality, it's about coherence.'
The manager admitted the challenge is compounded by a relentless schedule of midweek games, limiting training time. 'As a coach, we need time,' Nancy conceded. 'But at the same time, we know that we don't have time.'
The match at Tannadice begins a gruelling run of fixtures for Celtic. After Dundee United, they host Aberdeen on Sunday before facing Livingston and Motherwell away, followed by a crucial home clash with Rangers over the festive period.
Despite the bleak opening, Nancy remains confident of a turnaround. 'I know what to do. And I can tell you that every day there is an improvement,' he insisted. 'I cannot talk too much because results are important. And for the moment, I have nothing. But I know that it will come.'
