'Do it!': Wilfried Nancy launches blistering and impassioned defence of Celtic tenure ahead of facing Rangers

Nancy has won just two of his first seven matches in charge of Celtic and has lost the other five, including the Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren. Following the midweek defeat by Motherwell, the defending Premiership champions remain three points behind leaders Hearts and pressure is growing on the Frenchman.

Some believe that a defeat at home to Rangers, who are three points behind Celtic in third place, would make Nancy’s position untenable. The 48-year-old has implemented a new style of play straight away, with many players not looking comfortable as they try to adapt to his methods.

Nancy took the opportunity at his pre-match press conference to set the record straight on a number of issues, stressing that it will take time for his team to take shape, that he wants to create a “legacy” at Celtic, that he is doing everything to be successful and that he’d be a liar if he said “everything is happy” right now.

Nancy was asked by a reporter if he feels the board will give him the players he needs this month to make this Celtic team the way he envisions it, which sparked an impassioned response from the former Columbus Crew man as he made his feelings clear on the current landscape.

“Yes, it’s step by step as you can imagine,” the Frenchman said, before adding: “Again, I know that you do your job and your job is to attack me and ask me a lot of questions, I have no problem with that. This is your job, my job is to be the coach, your job is to ask questions and to go all in with me.

“But again, this is only the beginning. Usually, we have four weeks of pre-season, four or five. I didn’t have pre-season. I know why. I came, and two days later we had a game [against Hearts]. And a game we should have won, by the way, if I’m not mistaken and you know the way that it happened.

“So now, the reality is that before I came, I knew if I don’t win games, I’m going to be in trouble, because this is part of the job. Okay. But I’m pleased to be here. I know where we are now, that’s why I said what I said about the Motherwell game. I am not an underdog, I want my team to compete against any team, any team. I repeat, any team, but with the context, I knew that this kind of situation could happen.

‘You will see my Celtic team’

“So now, as you know, I need time. I know that I don’t have time, because I know this is the way that it is in my job. But with the small amount of time that I’ve had, I saw things that we did better than when I had a team for four weeks in pre-season.

“So yes, I want to ask you, give me time, and you will see my team. You are going to see what I am going to do, because you can see already what I did before, because I didn’t start yesterday. So, if you do your job, you’re going to be able to see what I did in the past and the way I play, what I want to do, the way I want to defend, the way I want to attack, it is clear.

“I don’t want to compare because the culture is different and so on, but when you see now, obviously people and fans are not happy, and me too, I am not happy, because I see only a few glimpses of what I want to do. But I am pleased with that too, because this is only 12 or 13 sessions that we did. This is the context.

“Like tomorrow [against Rangers], the context is that it is a big game, but for me, my context is that I have had only 13 practice sessions with my team, and usually we have four weeks of pre-season. So, it is totally normal that you guys, you kill me. I’m fine with that, I’m totally fine with that, because I know where I want to go.

“Judge me in a few weeks, a month, but if you want to judge me now then you can do it, because it’s fact that I didn’t and we didn’t have the results that we wanted. It’s a fact, I cannot deny that. But, do your job before, and I know that you do it, and have a look at the way that I am as a coach, as I am as a manager, and what I want to bring for the team, and you will see that we are not there yet.

“New players, a bit of time, and we have players who have been here for five, six, seven years doing certain things in a certain way, no kidding that it takes time. Guys, seriously. I’m going to be a liar if I say that everything is happy, everything is good. No. It is not the case. I knew that before, because this is part of my job.

“So, that is why I am calm regarding all the questions that you ask me. I am not pleased to hear that people don’t like me and so on. What am I going to say? They have a right to say it, because in terms of results, this is not what we want.

“But, if you do your job, you can see what I do. And if you are patient, and I know that you cannot be patient in this job, then you are going to be able to see what I can do. Not I, my team and my players. But, for the moment, this is a tornado. I knew that. Is it easy to handle that? No. But I am ready for that.

“So, this is my message for everyone. Fans, you guys, all the people, this is the reality. And we knew that before with the board when I came. It is totally normal that my players need a bit of time. It is totally normal that my players can be confused in certain moments, because it’s a process.

‘Do it! Because this is your job’

“I don’t like the word process because people sometimes think that I am going to hide behind process, but it is true! Judge me, no problem. But have a look, analyse since I am here all of the games that we played, and analyse if we should have won the game or lose the game. Do it! Because this is your job. Do it.

“But I don’t like to make assumptions. I am a clear guy. For the moment, I cannot talk. I shut my mouth because, Wilfried, results aren’t good enough. I shut my mouth, and I take it. But I know where we are going. After that, if it is going to work or not, I don’t know. But I know we are going to do everything to do it. I am here for that.

“After that, yes I want to win every game. Yes, I want to win titles for Celtic. Yes, I want to create memories and a legacy here. Yes, I am going to die for this club. For sure. But, context. And I suffer with that. Not about the criticism, because this is part of my job. I suffer because I know that if we get in this position, we are going to be able to outplay the opposition, but for the moment, we are not ready to do it.

“For the moment we only play with a back three offensively, but if you do your job, you are going to see that I am not a back-three guy. I attack in different ways. But my players need time to understand what I want to do. This is my message, and after that we'll see. But my job is ... this is not normal but expect the expected. You don't win, you get killed. You win, okay.”

It was put to Nancy by another journalist that the line of questioning and wider reaction is down to the results and the situation Celtic currently find themselves in.

"I understand that perfectly,” the manager continued. “People have the right to not be happy. I understand that. In all the clubs that I've been at, connection with the fans was important. Now I came in the middle of the season, they were winning, we lose! So I need time and I understand the context, I understand that Celtic is Celtic. I understand the culture here could be different, and so on. I understand everything.

“But I don't like to promise things. I could have been the guy that promises we get results. Come on, come on. What I'm going to promise you is that I'm going to do everything to get back on track and to be consistent. Not go back on track because we've been on track, because the season is like that (mimes up and down).

"Again I'm not a big guy with standing, and I realise why I am because if I am not mistaken, we are only second. And we are able to control many things because the season is long. But because we lost a few games, this is like we are last. So I understand the context. I want to please my players, to please the club, to please the fans, because this is why I do this job. But for the moment, yes, I understand the narrative. I'm not saying that I accept it, but this is another debate.”

Asked if the criticism has been unfair, Nancy replied: "No, I'm not here to talk about being fair or unfair. You are different from the guy next to you. Maybe you are going to say something different, you don't have the same perspective. I don't know. I'm not here to judge or to say anything about that. It's a fact.”

Nancy was the pressed as to how much time should fans expect to wait, given they have lost the League Cup and are second in the Premiership.

"I didn't say that second was good,” Nancy retorted. “I didn't say that. Understand me well. I know that I am a French guy, but I never said that. I just gave the context, where we are now. So after that, you told me about time ... I'm not trying to buy time. I cannot buy time in my job. The only moment to buy time is when we win games. I know that.

“We have to win games. I know we have to win games to buy time. This is the job, so that's why I don't have an answer for you. What I know is that we train, what I know is that we train every day to get better, and we'll try to improve. This is something that I can quantify. But after that, the time is subjective. That is why I cannot answer your question.”