Unbowed Nancy insists he is not worried about the sack but Celtic fans display wrath after defeat.

The Celtic boss declared he had no concerns about dismissal, claiming, “The team is very near to a turnaround,” even after edging perilously close to being fired with a heavy defeat by Rangers.

A Second-Half Collapse Leads to Old Firm Loss

Celtic had led Rangers at the interval but a collapse after the break enabled Rangers to draw level on points with the current league title holders. The former MLS manager, who was brought in from Columbus Crew, has now been in charge for six setbacks in eight games.

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

Questioned about whether he was concerned, the 48-year-old replied: “It’s not on my mind. I think about discovering solutions to get the team to be good on details.

Protest On Display

Celtic’s support displayed their anger – directed at the hierarchy – by gathering at full time. The board are reportedly likely to return to the former boss, who had a fruitful interim spell last year, if the Frenchman were sacked.

“Wins and losses [that leads to pressure]. So this is the situation for the moment. However in stating that’s how it is, it doesn’t mean that I am pessimistic. Absolutely not. My point is we are on the cusp, extremely close to reverse our form.”

Focus on the Details

The coach highlights the fact the side show good levels for 45 minutes at a time. For instance, if not for missed chances they could have been greater than 1-0 up. “The performance had merit except the fact that we missed our chances,” he said. “I acknowledge that we lost, but I have also to be balanced.

“The performance we had at certain moments was of top quality. That is a fact. I wouldn't speak so positively if it was untrue. Therefore, in terms of results, I noted it's a repeating pattern. That’s why I said that we are really close to a shift in fortunes. But for the moment: small things.”

“I saw a lot of encouraging signs that we did, like today again. But now is sustaining it. My narrative would change if I didn't believe it. That’s why I firmly believe the team can to fix this.”

Röhl’s Cautious Stance

Rangers manager played down talk of a serious challenge even after what seemed like a statement victory. “We take it game by game, so we can develop a challenge,” he said. “The confidence in the team is outstanding.”

Sharon Gill
Sharon Gill

Elara is a nature writer and environmental advocate with a passion for documenting sustainable practices and cultural traditions.