Wilfried Nancy: Celtic job delay would have been SELFISH

Robin Bairner

22 Dec 2025 13:40 GMT
4 min read

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy watches his side's clash with Dundee United — © IMAGO

Wilfried Nancy has admitted that the timing of taking the Celtic manager job was not ideal but has revealed why it was the best option he had.

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The Frenchman eased some of the mounting pressure on his shoulders on Sunday as his side turned in a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen, and while the victory came late against 10 men, it showcased the type of attacking football that is expected under him.

Previously, Nancy had been under fire after losing his first four matches in charge of the club, going down to defeats against Hearts, Roma, St Mirren and Dundee United.

These had raised questions not only of his competence, but of the board’s decision to put him in charge for a run of testing fixtures.

Nancy says, though, that it was essential he was given an opportunity to assess the squad before the January transfer window.

“That's why I came at this moment. I could have come a little bit later. But now, with the club, we decided that it was the moment because I needed time to assess the team and to evaluate. So if I was thinking about myself, maybe I could have been a little bit later,” the Celtic boss said.

“But the timing is the timing. So that's why I accept all the things that happened. This is new for me to have four losses. This is new for the players to have four losses.

“Again, we have to go through that to see what we have to do. The character of the team, the personality of the team, the personality of the players, and so on, and so on, and so on.”

© IMAGO - Wilfried Nancy remains under fire at Celtic

Celtic's January transfer plans under wraps

Nancy refused to give anything away with regards Celtic’s plans for January.

“As I said, I analyse the team. After that, we'll see what we need. And my first job is to analyse the players, what we have here,” he said.

“And after that, we'll see who we're going to bring, if we need to bring someone.”

Celtic have been closely linked with Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, and with big chances spurned by the Hoops’ centre-forwards in recent matches, the prospect of snapping up a new No.9 must be a very tempting one indeed for the coach.

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