Wilfried Nancy Reflects on Celtic’s Tough Start

Disappointing First Half Against Roma

Celtic’s manager, Wilfried Nancy, described his team as “too soft” during a lackluster first half in their European clash with Roma. He remains optimistic that they will soon adapt to his tactical instructions. This match marked a challenging beginning for Nancy, making him the first Celtic boss to experience losses in his initial two games as they fell 3-0 to the Italian side at Parkhead.

Key Moments of the Match

During the match, Celtic found themselves trailing by three goals, which included an own goal from Liam Scales and two goals from Evan Ferguson. Additionally, Arne Engels could not convert a penalty in stoppage time.

Though the team displayed improved energy and attacking force after halftime, with some disallowed goals for marginal offside, Roma had already secured the victory by the break and appeared to reduce their intensity afterwards.

Manager’s Insights

Nancy hinted that his squad, influenced by previous management under Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney, appeared fatigued due to their participation in back-to-back matches. However, he chose to maintain the same starting lineup that had suffered a defeat against Hearts in his previous match.

Amid growing frustration when asked if he anticipated such challenging circumstances, Nancy stated: “I expected this. Let’s be realistic; I just arrived a week ago. Some players have participated in six consecutive games, we have injuries to deal with, and more significant matches are on the horizon. So, this was something I expected.”

Reflections on Performance

Despite the rocky beginning, with a Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren looming, Nancy has made considerable adjustments to Celtic’s formation. He has adopted a back three system and requested his wide players to take on wing-back roles, shifting from three in midfield to a square formation.

When asked about tactical issues, he remarked: “I believe they performed well. We encountered challenges with intensity, but I noticed improvements in the second half. I feel they are receptive to these changes. There’s a connection between us, and I am confident in my players. We’ve only had four days of training together; it’s not an excuse, but it is a reality.”

Moving Forward

“I accept this challenge,” he continued. “I knew it would be tough, and I could have delayed my arrival. Yet, I have faith in my players. They are engaged, and I see positive developments. However, this is a significant challenge due to the lack of training time. Many of our players have been playing consecutively, which is a reality we must acknowledge, particularly with the current injury situation.”