Bullish Nancy does not fear being fired however Celtic fans display wrath after derby defeat.

The under-pressure manager stated he had no concerns about losing his job, maintaining, “I believe we are extremely close to changing our fortunes,” despite sliding worryingly close to the chopping block with a comprehensive loss to Rangers.

A Second-Half Meltdown Leads to Old Firm Disaster

Celtic were ahead Rangers at the interval but a collapse after the break let Danny Röhl’s team to pull level on points with the current league title holders. Nancy, who was appointed in December, has now presided over six setbacks in his first eight fixtures.

“The board and I are united with the board,” said Nancy.

Asked directly about the speculation, the 48-year-old replied: “That’s not my focus. My focus is on finding ways to help my team to improve on the fine details.

Fan Fury Erupts

Celtic’s support voiced their fury – directed at the dugout and directors – by protesting at full time. The board would be most likely to return to Martin O’Neill, who had a fruitful interim spell before Nancy was hired, should a change be made.

“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. That is the truth for the moment. However by saying that’s how it is, I am not saying that I am pessimistic. No. What I mean the turnaround is near, really, really close to turn things around.”

Focus on the Details

The coach continues to cling to the fact Celtic show good levels for a half at a time. For instance, were it not for wastefulness in front of goal they could have been greater than 1-0 up. “I saw enough other than the fact that we missed a second goal,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but it's important to stay objective.

“The standard we had at stages was really, really, really high. That happened. I wouldn't say that if it was different. Therefore, when it comes to wins, I noted it's a repeating pattern. For that reason I believe a change is coming to getting it right. Right now: the fine margins.”

“We produced plenty of positives that we did, once more. The issue now comes down to performing for 90 minutes. My outlook would change if it was not the case. That’s why I am a big believer we’re going to be able to fix this.”

The Rangers Boss Stance

Danny Röhl refused to contemplate a serious challenge in spite of what felt like a landmark win. “One match at a time, so we can really build up a challenge,” he said. “The faith in the team is excellent.”

Michael Mills
Michael Mills

A passionate urban planner and writer sharing insights on sustainable city living and modern lifestyle trends.