Celtic defender Tony Ralston has issued a stark admission that there can be no excuses for the team's alarming slump in form, as pressure intensifies on manager Wilfried Nancy.
Pressure Peaks After Fir Park Defeat
The Parkhead side's woes deepened with a woeful 2-0 defeat away to Motherwell on Tuesday night. This result marked a fifth loss in just seven matches under French boss Nancy, who took charge earlier this season. The performance at Fir Park saw the champions concede 15 goals across those seven games, with players appearing confused within Nancy's preferred 3-4-3 system.
Ralston, while stressing the squad's continued support for the manager, was unequivocal about the need for immediate improvement. "At a club like Celtic, losing games is not something you ever accept," said the full-back. "We have got a massive game at the weekend and we need to get ready for it."
Ralston's Rallying Cry Ahead of Old Firm Clash
That massive game is the Old Firm derby against Rangers at Celtic Park on Saturday, a fixture that now looms as potentially make-or-break for Nancy's beleaguered tenure. Ralston dismissed the significant changes at the club—including new players and staff—as a valid reason for their struggles.
"But that’s no excuse," he insisted. "We have got immense talent, we’ve got immense experience, and above all else our togetherness... The results haven’t fallen for us, we take the onus on that. But it does need to turn around." He pinpointed defensive frailties as a critical issue: "We need to stop conceding goals, we know that."
Adapt or Fail, Says Defiant Defender
Pressed on whether the manager's methods and system were causing problems, Ralston shifted responsibility firmly onto the playing squad. He argued that top-level footballers must be able to adapt quickly, regardless of circumstances.
"As a footballer at any club, especially at the highest level, you need to adapt to a change of system," Ralston stated. "So you can’t put the reasons down to a change of system or give excuses for that... There’s no excuses in football. Especially at the top level, especially at a club like Celtic."
Despite acknowledging the challenge of implementing new ideas during a congested fixture schedule, Ralston vowed the team would be ready for the Rangers showdown. "We understand the magnitude of the game," he said. "First of all, we need to show the fight. And I feel that the fight has been there. We will be more than ready to take it on."
The defeat to Motherwell has left Celtic firmly back to square one after brief festive wins over Aberdeen and Livingston, setting the stage for a pivotal and pressurized weekend in Glasgow.
