Bullish Celtic's manager insists he is not worried about the sack yet the Parkhead faithful show wrath following loss.
Wilfried Nancy declared he did not fear losing his job, asserting, “We are very near to things turning around,” even after edging perilously close to being fired with a heavy setback against Rangers.
Another Collapse Leads to Derby Loss
Celtic had led Rangers at the break but a disastrous second period enabled Rangers to pull level on points with the reigning Scottish Premiership champions. Nancy, who was appointed in December, has now been in charge for six setbacks in eight games.
“The board and I are united at the club,” said the manager.
Asked directly about his own future, the 48-year-old replied: “It’s not on my mind. I think about finding ways to get the team to be good on small moments.
Fan Fury Outside Parkhead
The fans voiced their fury – towards the hierarchy – in their hundreds outside the stadium. The board are reportedly likely to return to the former boss, who steered the club during a temporary stint last year, should a change be made.
“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. That is the situation for the moment. But in stating this is the reality, that is not a sign that I am giving up. Not at all. My point is the turnaround is near, really, really close to turn things around.”
“Really, Really Close”
Nancy highlights the fact Celtic show good levels for 45 minutes at a time. In fact, if not for wastefulness in front of goal they would have been greater than 1-0 up. “I saw enough except the fact that we missed our chances,” he said. “I acknowledge that we lost, but I must remain fair.
“The standard we had at times was of top quality. That happened. I wouldn't say that if it was untrue. That is the reason, in terms of results, I said it's a repeating pattern. That’s why I feel a change is coming to things turning around. Right now: small things.”
“There were a lot of encouraging signs that we did, once more. But now is performing for 90 minutes. My outlook would not be if I didn't believe it. Therefore I firmly believe we will manage to fix this.”
The Rangers Boss Response
Danny Röhl refused to contemplate a title charge in spite of what felt like a landmark win. “We take it game by game, so we can gradually build a challenge,” he said. “The belief in the team is immense.”