Defiant Wilfried Nancy does not fear being fired yet the Parkhead faithful display fury after defeat.
The Celtic boss insisted he did not fear the sack, claiming, “We are really close to changing our fortunes,” despite moving dangerously close to the chopping block with a heavy loss to the Ibrox side.
Another Capitulation Leads to Old Firm Defeat
The Hoops were ahead Rangers at the interval but a collapse after the break enabled Danny Röhl’s team to pull level on points with the current Scottish Premiership champions. Nancy, who was brought in from Columbus Crew, has now been in charge for six losses in his last eight matches.
“The board and I are united at the club,” stated the manager.
Questioned about the speculation, he said: “It’s not on my mind. I concentrate on discovering solutions to aid my players to excel on details.
Protest Outside Parkhead
The fans displayed their anger – towards the board and manager – by protesting at Parkhead. The hierarchy would be most likely to bring back the interim manager, who enjoyed a successful temporary stint before Nancy was hired, if the Frenchman were sacked.
“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. That is the situation for the moment. Yet by saying this is the reality, I am not saying that I am pessimistic. Absolutely not. What I mean the turnaround is near, extremely close to change the narrative.”
Nancy’s Persistent Belief
The coach highlights the fact his team show good levels for a half at a time. Indeed, but for missed chances they might have been greater than 1-0 up. “The performance had merit other than the fact that we missed a second goal,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but I must remain balanced.
“The standard we had at times was exceptionally high. This is the reality. And I would not speak so positively if it was not the case. That is the reason, when it comes to wins, I said it's a repeating pattern. For that reason I feel we are really close to getting it right. Right now: small things.”
“There were many, many good things that we did, once more. However is sustaining it. My outlook would change the same. This is why I firmly believe we’re going to be able to turn things around.”
The Rangers Boss Outlook
The victorious boss refused to contemplate a championship push in spite of what appeared to be a landmark win. “We take it game by game, then we can gradually build something here,” he said. “The confidence in the squad is excellent.”