‘Unthinkable’ – Wilfried Nancy sack verdict emerges ahead of today’s Celtic vs Rangers clash

A verdict on Wilfried Nancy’s future at Celtic has begun to circulate ahead of Saturday’s Old Firm clash, with defeat against Rangers being described as potentially “unthinkable” for the Frenchman’s survival in the role.

Rangers head into the weekend knowing that a victory at Parkhead could have ramifications far beyond bragging rights. Not only would three points strengthen their title credentials, but it could also place Nancy under extreme pressure just weeks into his tenure as Celtic manager.

Celtic were thrown into turmoil back in October when Brendan Rodgers unexpectedly resigned, a decision that left the club scrambling for direction. After a period of uncertainty, Nancy was appointed as the club’s permanent manager in early December, inheriting a side already struggling for form and confidence.

Since then, the situation has hardly improved. Rangers, along with Danny Röhl’s side, have closed the gap on Celtic in recent weeks, and a win on 3 December would see them draw level on points with Nancy’s team. Momentum is clearly shifting, and Rangers are once again firmly embedded in the title race.

From Celtic’s perspective, the stakes could hardly be higher. A Rangers victory would not only damage their hopes of retaining the league crown but could also push Nancy closer to the exit door. Questions are already being asked about whether the club made the right appointment, given the poor run of results that has followed his arrival.

Football writer John McGarry weighed in on the situation on 2 January, suggesting that Nancy’s long-term prospects at Celtic would be bleak if he were to lose the Old Firm encounter. Writing in the Daily Mail, McGarry acknowledged Nancy’s pedigree but stressed that some defeats simply cannot be tolerated at a club like Celtic.

McGarry pointed out that Nancy’s achievements during his time in Ohio should not be overlooked, and that branding him as an inferior coach would be unfair. He also noted that the Frenchman was appointed mid-season precisely because the club was already in trouble. An underperforming squad and a fanbase deeply frustrated with the board have created an environment that is far from ideal for immediate success.

Despite those mitigating factors, McGarry argued that losing to a Rangers side he described as “average” would be extremely difficult to justify. In his view, such a result would severely damage any hope Nancy has of stabilising his position and seeing out the season.

The numbers so far do little to strengthen Nancy’s case. Since taking charge, Celtic have won just two of his seven matches, suffering five defeats in the process. Losses have come against Hearts, Roma, St Mirren, Dundee United and Motherwell, while victories over Aberdeen and Livingston have done little to restore confidence or belief.

Those results have only intensified scrutiny on a manager who walked into an already volatile situation. As McGarry highlighted, the problems at Celtic extend far beyond the dugout. Rodgers’ departure was largely driven by dissatisfaction with the squad, and his parting remarks included a thinly veiled criticism of the board, particularly Dermot Desmond, over recruitment failures.

The squad Rodgers left behind has been widely viewed as insufficient to mount a serious title defence, and that reality has quickly caught up with Nancy. Attempting to impose new ideas mid-season, without the players to properly execute them, has proven to be a daunting task.

Compounding matters further is the fractured relationship between the supporters and the club’s hierarchy. Protests and frustration have become a regular feature, and results under Nancy have done little to ease tensions. If anything, the continued setbacks have deepened the sense of unrest around Parkhead.

From a Rangers perspective, the opportunity is clear. Victory in the Old Firm would put them in a commanding position, reignite their title push, and pile further misery on their biggest rivals. It would also amplify pressure on Nancy, potentially pushing Celtic into yet another period of instability.

Whether defeat would immediately cost Nancy his job remains uncertain. Celtic may opt for patience, recognising the scale of the challenge he inherited and the lack of alternatives mid-season. However, an Old Firm loss would undoubtedly be a major setback so early in his reign and could make his position increasingly untenable.

For Rangers supporters, watching Celtic struggle has been a source of satisfaction, but there is also a recognition that their own team must continue to improve to fully capitalise. Beating a vulnerable rival is one thing; sustaining a title challenge is another.

Saturday’s showdown, then, carries enormous significance. It could reshape the title race, deepen the crisis at Celtic, and potentially decide whether Wilfried Nancy is given the chance to rebuild or becomes another casualty of the Old Firm’s unforgiving pressure.

‘Catastrophic’: Celtic legend claims Nancy is living in ‘cloud cuckoo land’

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has delivered a scathing assessment of Wilfried Nancy’s troubled start at Parkhead, warning that the club is drifting toward disaster unless decisive action is taken. Comparing the current situation to the doomed voyage of the Titanic, Sutton believes Celtic are heading straight for trouble under a manager whose ideas do not match the squad at his disposal.

Nancy’s reign has begun in disastrous fashion. Five defeats in his first seven matches represent the worst opening run ever endured by a new Celtic manager. During that short period, the champions have surrendered nine crucial league points, exited domestic cup contention, and placed their Europa League hopes under serious threat. Confidence within the squad appears shattered, and the pressure is intensifying ahead of a high-stakes derby clash with Rangers at Celtic Park.

For Sutton, the problems run far deeper than one match, even one as significant as the Old Firm derby. The former England international insists the Celtic hierarchy must urgently answer one fundamental question: are Celtic more likely to win the Premiership with Nancy in charge?

Based on current evidence, Sutton’s answer is blunt. He does not believe they are.

Drawing an analogy with the famous maritime disaster, Sutton suggested Celtic’s leadership is wasting precious time while danger looms. Like the Titanic’s captain who delayed responding to warning signs, the club risks catastrophe by hesitating. In Sutton’s view, Celtic are attempting to navigate a perilous course with a manager committed to a rigid system and players ill-equipped to carry it out.

According to Sutton, responsibility now lies squarely with the board. They must either immediately back Nancy by recruiting players capable of executing his tactical vision or accept that the experiment has failed and replace him with a more pragmatic and adaptable coach. Allowing the situation to drift is not an option.

Sutton argues that Nancy is trying to impose an idealistic style on a squad unable to cope with its demands. This, he says, is not a video game or a theoretical exercise but the harsh reality of elite football. While many supporters may see the Rangers game as decisive, Sutton insists the issues at Celtic are far bigger than one result.

Despite his reputation for supporting long-term planning, Sutton admitted discomfort at even raising the possibility of a managerial change so early. However, he believes that if Celtic are committed to sticking with Nancy, they must act immediately in the transfer market. Waiting until the end of January, he warned, could already be too late.

If Celtic choose continuity without reinforcement, Sutton fears the consequences will be severe. He described January as a defining moment, arguing that the club’s recent decision-making has lacked clarity and conviction. For him, the choice is straightforward: fully support Nancy right now or make a clean break.

Interestingly, Sutton stopped short of placing all the blame on the Frenchman himself. Instead, he pointed the finger at those responsible for appointing him. In Sutton’s view, Celtic’s decision-makers badly overestimated the current squad’s ability to adapt to Nancy’s system. While it is possible Nancy underestimated the demands of Scottish football, Sutton believes the greater fault lies with the executives who sanctioned the appointment.

He compared the situation to other managers who arrive with a clearly defined philosophy and refuse to compromise. If Celtic’s hierarchy knew Nancy was wedded to his ideas, they should have first asked whether the squad was capable of delivering them. The performances since his arrival, Sutton argues, have already provided the answer.

If the club insists on persisting with Nancy, Sutton believes they must commit fully and provide the resources required to make his approach viable. Failing that, he says, the humane and sensible option would be to end the experiment sooner rather than later.

Sutton reserved particular criticism for Celtic’s recent defeat to Motherwell, describing the performance as “catastrophic.” He dismissed any attempt to draw positives from the match, arguing that Celtic were not outplayed by an elite European side but by domestic opposition they should never be dominated by. Suggesting there were encouraging aspects, Sutton said, only reinforced the idea that Nancy is detached from reality.

He stressed that Celtic can lose matches, but the manner of defeat matters. Being comprehensively outplayed by Motherwell, in his view, exposed how unbalanced and confused the team has become. Unless Nancy is willing to adjust his approach, Sutton fears the same pattern will repeat itself.

Looking ahead to the derby, Sutton made a bleak prediction. For the first time in years, he believes Rangers will win at Celtic Park, despite not being particularly impressive themselves. He described Nancy’s side as chaotic, capable of creating danger but alarmingly vulnerable whenever opponents attack their penalty area.

Sutton criticised the tactical demands being placed on individual players, arguing that several are being asked to perform roles beyond their capabilities. He questioned the logic of using defenders in unfamiliar positions and deploying attackers as wing-backs. He also raised doubts about how returning players would fit into the system, suggesting key figures may be unsuited to Nancy’s preferred setup.

While acknowledging that Celtic have picked up wins against weakened or struggling sides, Sutton stressed that five defeats in seven matches cannot be ignored. He reminded supporters that Celtic have often won without playing sparkling football, citing previous eras where results mattered more than aesthetics.

The most damning statistic, however, is defensive. Celtic have conceded 15 goals in seven games under Nancy, and the players look uncertain and disoriented. For Sutton, the evidence is overwhelming.

Celtic’s leadership, he concluded, must confront reality. Patience has its place, but so does accountability. Either Nancy must be given the tools to succeed immediately, or the club must accept that the current path leads only to further damage.

As Sutton put it, the facts are already staring Celtic in the face.