Wilfried Nancy fails to reassure as he claims Rangers showdown won’t decide Celtic fate

Wilfried Nancy insists that Saturday’s hugely significant Old Firm clash against Rangers will not be the moment that determines his future as Celtic manager, but his comments have done little to reassure a restless support increasingly concerned by the team’s direction.

The Frenchman remains adamant that he is capable of turning Celtic’s fortunes around, even as results continue to go against him. However, confidence in his message is wearing thin. A defeat at Parkhead this weekend would represent a sixth loss in just eight matches since he took charge, an alarming record for any Celtic manager, particularly one still in the early stages of his tenure.

The most recent setback, a 2-0 loss away to Motherwell, was arguably the most damaging yet. Celtic were second best throughout the contest and struggled to assert themselves at any point. Goals from Ibrahim Said in the first half and Elliot Watt after the break sealed a deserved win for the hosts, and even Nancy found it difficult to extract positives from a performance that lacked energy, cohesion and cutting edge.

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy at full time after the 2-0 defeat by Motherwell at Fir Park. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Although there had been tentative signs of improvement in back-to-back victories over Aberdeen and Livingston, any optimism generated by those results quickly evaporated at Fir Park. Celtic’s inconsistency once again came to the fore, raising further doubts about whether Nancy is truly steering the team in the right direction.

The stakes could hardly be higher going into the clash with Rangers. A win for their Glasgow rivals would see them draw level on points with Celtic, while Hearts currently sit three points clear at the summit, having played the same number of matches. Pressure is mounting rapidly, and the atmosphere around Parkhead is becoming increasingly volatile.

When asked if the Old Firm showdown would define his Celtic future, Nancy attempted to deflect the focus away from himself. He stressed that his attention remains firmly on improving the team rather than worrying about his own position.

Ibrahim Said (centre) celebrates after heading Motherwell into the lead in the 2-0 win over Celtic at Fir Park. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

“Every game is important for me and for the team,” he said. “I’m not thinking about my future. I’m thinking about what I need to do now, how we improve the team, and what steps we take to get better.”

January is viewed as a potential turning point. Nancy has suggested he expects the club to support him in the transfer market, with the prospect of significant squad changes on the horizon. When questioned about recruitment plans, he confirmed that work is already underway and that strengthening the squad is a priority.

Yet despite these assurances, doubts over his long-term future refuse to fade. While some of the criticism directed at him had eased following recent wins, the nature of the defeat to Motherwell felt like a major regression. It was not just the loss itself, but the lack of competitiveness that alarmed supporters and observers alike.

Reflecting on the game, Nancy acknowledged the difficulties his side faced. He praised Motherwell’s collective strength and admitted Celtic struggled to cope with their organisation and intensity. According to him, his team were caught between pressing high and sitting off, which led to uncertainty and vulnerability, particularly in the first half.

Celtic conceded the opening goal from a throw-in and subsequent cross, something Nancy admitted his players should have defended better. He also conceded that his side failed to create enough chances, an issue that has become an increasingly familiar theme.

He felt there was some improvement after the interval, with Celtic appearing more cohesive and managing to carve out a handful of opportunities. However, breaking down Motherwell proved beyond them, and the second goal effectively ended the contest.

Motherwell’s Elliot Watt (l) celebrates scoring to make it 2-0 over Celtic at Fir Park. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Nancy also explained his half-time substitutions, revealing that withdrawing Kieran Tierney, Daizen Maeda and Paulo Bernardo had been planned in advance. Concerns over fatigue played a key role in those decisions, with the manager keen to avoid risking injuries to players who had been covering huge physical demands in recent weeks.

Asked about his poor record since arriving from Columbus Crew, Nancy conceded that the situation is far from ideal. Nevertheless, he reiterated his belief in the process and maintained that improvement will come.

“I’m confident about where we want to go,” he said. “The reality is that this was a tough game for us, and at the moment things are difficult. But I believe we are going to get better.”

Those words, however, have done little to inspire confidence. There was a sense that his tone bordered on resignation, as though the defeat was an unfortunate but acceptable outcome rather than a major warning sign. That perception was only reinforced when he was reminded that Motherwell, despite their strengths under Jens Berthel Askou, had not beaten Celtic at home since 2013.

When budget disparities were raised, Nancy acknowledged the difference but stressed the importance of context. He admitted that Celtic are not currently operating from a position of dominance and accepted that, on the night, his side simply were not good enough.

“I understand the concern,” he said. “I know the club I’m working for and what it represents. But this is the reality right now.”

That reality is stark. Celtic could drop to third place if they lose heavily to Rangers, and fan frustration is reaching boiling point. Should the team perform as poorly as they did against Motherwell, the backlash is likely to be severe.

When pressed on whether there were genuine signs of progress in the latest defeat, Nancy struggled to offer a convincing answer. He admitted the performance fell well short of expectations and described it as the most difficult match since his arrival.

Finally, turning his attention back to the Old Firm, Nancy acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion. He insisted he understands the intensity and significance of the rivalry and vowed that his players will approach the game with passion and commitment. Whether that will be enough to steady the ship remains the biggest question of all.

£25k-p/w Celtic star outshining expectations

Celtic suffered a significant loss in the summer transfer window when they transferred German winger Nicolas Kuhn to Serie A side Como for £16.5 million.

According to Transfermarkt, the left-footed sensation scored 21 goals and assisted 15 times in 51 appearances across all competitions for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 season, following a return of three goals and three assists in 18 games in the second half of last season.

🗣️ “That is absolutely 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟”

Nicolas Kuhn quickly doubles Celtic’s lead with a thunderous strike 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uEt6uPKY2i

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 23, 2024

Kuhn was recruited from Rapid Vienna for £3 million in January 2024, which proved to be a bargain. However, the Hoops unable to match this success with their signings last season.

Ranking Celtic’s signings from the 2024-25 season

Brendan Rodgers added ten players to his first-team squad during the summer and winter transfer windows for the 2024/25 season, eight of them were permanent.

Arne Engels signed for £11 million from Augsburg, a club record, however his performance has not been as impressive as predicted.

According to Transfermarkt, the Belgian star has three non-penalty goals, nine from the spot, and 17 assists in 80 games in all competitions, representing a very ordinary return given the money spent on him.

Because of his performance versus expectation, we put him fifth out of 10 signings, trailing only Kasper Schmeichel, who has been the club’s number one for 18 months after signing on a free transfer, Luke McCowan, Jota, and Auston Trusty.

Meanwhile, we’ve rated Alex Valle, Jeffrey Schlupp, and Viljami Sinisalo, who made his first league appearance of the season on Saturday, at the bottom of the list because they’ve rarely, if ever, worn a Celtic shirt.

As shown in the table above, Trusty is in first place. The £6 million transfer from Sheffield United has become the primary defender under Wilfried Nancy, starting all games thus far.

According to Sofascore, the USA international has won 65% of ground duels and 67% of aerial duels in the Scottish Premiership this season, indicating a dominant performance.

None of those signings, however, have come close to matching Nicolas Kuhn’s performance at Parkhead, and one of this summer’s additions is on his way to becoming the club’s next German.

Celtic’s best addition since Nicolas Kuhn.

As previously stated, the left-footed winger posed a significant threat at the top of the pitch for the Scottish giants, and none of last season’s acquisitions have come close to replacing him as of yet.

Celtic signed Benjamin Nygren from Nordsjaelland for a reputed amount of £1.3 million in the summer, and he appears to be their best signing since Kuhn.

The Sweden international has made an immediate impact at Parkhead, providing a consistent threat in the final third from right wing, central midfield, and attacking midfield positions.

💚 “A BELTER from Benjamin!”

Nygren puts Celtic in front for the first time at Livingston ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/1TpTLSlh5u

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 27, 2025

According to Transfermarkt, Nygren became the first Celtic player to reach double figures in goals in all competitions when he scored twice in Saturday’s Premiership triumph over Livingston.

As shown in the table above, Nygren’s current performance level is extremely comparable to what Kuhn produced in the Premiership last season, with identical chance creation numbers but significantly lower finishing from his teammates.

These statistics demonstrate the enormous influence that the Swedish star has had in Glasgow this season, since he is an exceptional goal scorer and playmaker.

Nygren has more goals and assists (15) than any other Celtic player in all competitions, and he has already scored more non-penalty goals for the club than Jota (after his return), Engels, Bernardo, and McCowan combined.

As a result of his strong performances this season, he appears to be the best signing since Kuhn, especially given the £1.3 million fee he was purchased for.