The fired up Frenchman let some steam off after being lambasted by fans and pundits alikeContent cannot be displayed without consent
Pumped up Wilfried Nancy launched a robust defence of his Celtic system and pleaded with fans to give him more time in an astonishing press conference.
The under-fire Parkhead boss has been lambasted by Hoops diehards after a calamitous start to his tenure – losing five of his opening seven games, including a shattering Premier Sports Cup Final defeat.
Nancy – who has gone down to Hearts, Roma, St Mirren, Dundee United and Motherwell – faces a monumental battle to turn things around.
Defeat to Rangers in Saturday’s derby blockbuster could see Celts slip to third in the table and even further behind leaders Hearts.
But Nancy insists he can be a success at Celtic, vowing to DIE for the club as he hit back at snipers who are “killing” him in an impassioned seven-minute address.
Here, you can read every word of the Frenchman’s explosive 25-minute pre-match press conference at Lennoxtown.
How much are you looking forward to your very first Rangers game as Celtic manager?
I’m really excited. You know, I’ve been watching this kind of game for many years, and now to be part of the game, this game, this is amazing. I’m really excited by that.
With everything that’s been going on with your future and all the pressure, as well as the league position, does this feel like the biggest game of your managerial career so far?
No. The next game is always the biggest game, because this is always the time, the next game that I have to prepare. So now I know that this is a rivalry. I know what it means, this kind of game, because like I said, I’ve been following this kind of game for many years. But I’m really excited by that.
How do you reflect on the defeat last time out, and what did you learn about your side that you can take into this match?
The last game was a different game. And like I said, it was a mid-game during the week, so it was a bit difficult for us, regarding all the reasons that I told you. I’ve learned every time that we have a game. Every time that we have a game, we discuss about what we can learn from that.
I think that it was not our best game with the ball, the last game. That’s why we had the feeling that we were defending a lot, because when we won the ball, we didn’t take care of the ball. We had a lot of trouble with that.
That’s why for me, I will not change regarding that. The ball is so important for us. We need to take care of the ball. We need to recognise when we have to attack the opposition, when this is a good moment. It doesn’t change in terms of the way I want to see my team play. Now it’s a different game tomorrow, regarding the fact that this is a rivalry. Now it’s got to be about emotion, to play with emotion, but also to balance the emotion. For me, this is the key point for tomorrow.
You have had a lot of criticism about your system. I know it’s uncomfortable even asking you about it, because it’s just everywhere you look, somebody’s having a go and saying this system is just not going to work. Do you think about changing it?
So I think about changing something every time. But again, I do also my job, regarding analysing what we can do, and have a look at all the goals that we conceded, and you’re going to tell me if this is about the system. So I did it, and no, it’s not the case.
So because we conceded a lot of goals on set-pieces, the only moment when we had an issue with the system, and this is something normal, is when we played against Roma, the second goal.
Wilfried Nancy during a Celtic training session
But after that, it was not about the system, because we had players, all the other goals that we conceded, we had many players inside the box, and sometimes it was a ping-pong game, like I said, transition. Sometimes we had to go score a goal, and we got caught in the transition.
Offensively, we had a really good moment also. Like I said, we watched with the players all the chances that we had in the beginning of the season. And I know that you know, it could have been different in terms of wins.
But again, I’m not a guy with a should have, could have, but this is a fact that at this moment, in terms of results, this is not what we want. But at the same time, I see a lot of things that I really like, and this is the direction that I like to take.
And after that, the system… I want you to understand that I don’t play with a back five. So this is useless to talk about this. I don’t play with a back five. The way we defend, most of the time, this is a back-four. Or it could be a back three. So after that, like every team, I repeat myself, when there is a situation, when there are many players in front of our backline, so we have to get more players. And when you play with a back-four, sometimes you can have a back-five or back-six.
For me, this is useless to talk about that. What I want is to be good with the concept. And this is, for me, the most important. I never said that I am a back-five guy. I never said that. I play with a back-four, I play with a back-three, I play with a back-two. For the moment, again, this is only the beginning. I want to see certain things with that, and after that, I will analyse.
How would you describe the mood of the players right now?
Disappointed. But also, we know why we are here. I think that we could have done better things at certain moments.
At the same time, the fact that we didn’t win the game that we were supposed to win, obviously affected everyone. But now, if I am cold and I analyse the performance, again, we don’t deserve to be there. But at the same time, we are not far because we are still close.
That’s why it’s all about the perspective. As a manager, like I said, what I see every time is improvement. Yes, the game against Motherwell was a bit difficult for various reasons, and I knew that. But this is the way I want to go, this is the way I want to play. I know where we are now, and I know where we want to go. And I really believe that we are on the right track.
Have you had to do anything to lift the morale or the spirit of the players?
Every day. When we win, there is also a certain thing that I don’t like that we need to adjust. And when we lose, this is also the same thing. Yes, it could be a bit deeper. But after that, I have to be factual. I have to see things. I have to show things. And after that, we discuss and try to improve.
Do you have to do anything special to prepare for this particular fixture? It’s your first time in the derby. Have you researched it? Do you know what’s about to be in front of you? The atmosphere of this particular match, the fury around you.
If we put the result on the neutral side, rivalry, I know what it is. Now, this kind of rivalry, like I said, I know also what it means.
I have many people who talk about that. And also when I was in France, when I was in the United States, I had friends between Celtic and Rangers, so I know that. So now, the idea is to control what we can control. To be good for the practice. To review what we need to improve. To show what we did well. And to attack this game like a game that we want to attack.
The fans have been unhappy with the board. They’ve been unhappy with the team, with yourself. How important is it tomorrow for this game that everyone comes behind you, behind the team, and are united as one?
No, this is not about being important. The fans want us to win games and to do well. We know that. And us, we want to do well for the club, for the players, and also for the fans. And I know the meaning of that.
I know that this game is important. But what I can tell everyone is we’re going to start this game knowing that it’s not a normal game. We know that. Because this is a reality. But after that, I can say that it’s not a normal game. But we still have to attack. We still have to defend. We still have to compete. So, it will not change.
What is going to change is the emotions. So, if we are one up, how are we going to deal with that in the score? If we are one down, how are we going to deal with that to come back? So, in this, the emotions are more difficult to balance because of the context of the game. So, that’s why, for me, it’s something that we know.
Something that we are looking for. And the only thing to get good at is to be clear and precise regarding what we want to do on the pitch.
After your first four games, it was a difficult period and there was a lot of criticism. And you admitted that it was a little bit of a surprise how ferocious things can be in this part of the world. But, you know, even just since the other night, Rod Stewart has been on social media saying things. I mean, are you starting to realise just how crazy the whole environment here is when you get a guy like Rod Stewart criticising you?
Yeah, I realised that. And this, everybody can talk. You know, I am who I am. I know what I want to do. And, again, as you know, I came in in the middle of the season. So, this is a reality. I am pleased to be here. And after that, it’s a famous club. So, everybody can talk.
Me, again, I have nothing against that. And I can understand also because of the kind of results. But, again, when we go deeper, like I said, I see what we need to do. I see the improvement. And after that, not everybody can see that because we are so focused on results. And this is totally normal.
When we win, we are happy. When we lose, this is difficult to accept. But, at the same time, this is also the reality of this. I’m not saying that I’m happy with that. I’m saying that we are working on that and I know that we’re going to be able to reverse that.
Have you felt under stress yourself over the last month? Or have you been able to remain pretty calm?
Listen, the way I am as a coach, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be good and to find a good decision. And, obviously, I saw the environment when they are not happy. But I knew that before I came. So, yeah, this is part of the job.
Because this game means so much to supporters, does this feel like a big opportunity for you that if you win this game tomorrow, that you could maybe change the opinion of some of the supporters?
I’m not here to change the opinion on everything, on anybody. I’m here to do as best as I can. I’m here to help the team to win. And after that, the opinion will change or not.
But the most important is, can you imagine, I need to, as a job, I have to do my job.
(Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)
And you’re asking me to think about what people are going to think about me. No, I know, depending on what we’re going to do, how everything can go. So, again, this is the opinion, this is opinion.
I want the best for the club. This is the most important. I want the best for my players. This is the most important. And, obviously, we want to win games. That’s why I’m here.
Wilfried, we’ve just spoken to your new signing Julian Araujo. Can you tell us what he brings to Celtic? Has he got a chance of starting tomorrow?
So, he brings freshness, new energy. He’s a young, talented player. He can play on the side as a full-back or wing-back. Yes, he hasn’t played a lot recently. But he’s going to be able to help us. He’s going to be in the group, yes, for tomorrow.
When you look at this particular fixture, the derby, sometimes people just need one game to help spark something and change the sort of mood and build momentum. Is this the ideal game for you right now?
If I can do it, yes. This is the idea, to win this game. After that, I know that if we win this game, the fans are going to be happy, everybody’s going to be happy because this is the way it is in football.
So, now, again, like I said, we want to win every game. I know that this game tomorrow is important because of the rivalry, but it doesn’t change the desire to win. It doesn’t change the desire to compete, the desire to do well. So, now, yes, I know the context.
How difficult is it to shut out the outside noise?
I cannot do anything against that. This is what they say. This is the context, the narrative that they want to use. So, again, me, I’m focused on preparing my team well, play the way we want to play, and to maximise our chance to win.
After that, the noise, I cannot control the noise. Like I said, I would like that the noise be nice. When we won two games, the noise was better. So, now, we lost the last game, so the noise came back to normal, I would say. But, again, this is part of my job. This is part of my job.
I’m not afraid of that. I am afraid of, not afraid, but I just want my team to play with personality, to do what they can do, and after that, we’ll see.
Do you agree with the narrative that if you were to lose this game, your position might be difficult?
I’m not here to… For me, I don’t have to answer this question, because perspective is everything. This is a perception of people. They can be right, they can be wrong. I don’t mind, but perspective is everything.
Have you had conversations with the guys on the board? Do you still feel as though you’ve got the complete backing of everyone at the club?
Yes.
Have you had conversations with them this week?
I know that the board is with me, and the club is with me, and the players are with me, and so on.
Do you feel as though the board is going to support you to bring the players you need to make this team the way you envision it?
Yes, step by step, because you can imagine, and again, I know that you do your job. I know that your job is to attack me or to ask me a lot of questions. No problem with that. This is your job. My job is to be coach. Your job is to ask questions and to go in with me. But again, this is only the beginning.
Usually, we have four weeks of pre-season. Four, five. I didn’t have pre-season. I know why. I came, two days after I had a game, and the game that we should have won, by the way, if I’m not mistaken, if you know the way it happens.
So now, the reality is, before I came, I knew that 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 the Motherwell game, I’m 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 happened. So now, as you know, I need time. I know that I don’t have time because this is the way it is in my job. But with the small amount of time that I had, I saw things that we did better when I had a team for four weeks in pre-season.
So, yes, I want to ask you, give me time and you see my team. You’re going to see what I’m 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. The way I play. What I want to do. The way I want to defend. The way I want to attack. It’s clear.
And now, if you have… Not compare, because I don’t like to compare. Because the culture is different and so on. And when you see now, obviously, people are not happy. Your fans and people… And me too, I’m not happy. Because this is… I see only a few glimpses of what I do.
But I’m pleased with that because this is only 12 or 13 sessions that we did. This is the context. Like tomorrow, the context is a big game. But me, my context is I have only 13 practices with my team. And usually, we have four weeks of pre-season.
So, it’s totally normal that you guys, you kill me. I’m fine with that. I’m totally fine with that. Because I know where do I want to go. Judge me in a few weeks. A month. But if you want to judge me now, you can do it.
Because it’s a fact that… And it’s also for me that… I didn’t have the result and we didn’t have the result that we wanted. It’s a fact. I cannot deny that. But do your job before.
And I know that you do it. I will look about the way I am as a coach, the way I am as a manager and what I want to bring for the team. And you will see that we are not there yet.
No players. A bit of time. Few players have been here for five, six, seven years. They were 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, yeah, everything is happy. Everything is good. No. This is not the case. But I knew that before. Because this is part of my job.
So that’s why I’m calm regarding all the questions that you ask me. I’m not pleased to hear that people don’t like me and so on. What I’m going to say is I have the 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 a bit patient, I know that we cannot be patient in this job, but you’re going to be able to see what I can do. Not I. My team. My players. But for the moment, this is a tornado. I knew that. If it’s easy to handle that, no. But I’m 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’s totally normal that my player needs a bit of time. It’s totally normal that my player could be confused at certain moments. Because it’s a process. I don’t like the word process because sometimes people think that I’m going to hide behind process. But it’s true.
Judge me. No problem. But. Have a look. Analyse all the games that we play 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 results are good enough. I shut my mouth. And I take it. But I know where we are going. After that, if it’s going to work or not, I don’t know. But I know that we’re going to do everything to do it. I’m here for that.
After that, yes, I want to win every game. Yes, I want to bring titles to Celtic. Yes, I want to create memory. I want to create a legacy here. Yes, I’m 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 that I know that if he gets in this position, we’re going to be able to outplay the opposition. But for the moment, he’s not ready to do it.
If we… For the moment, we play only with a back three offensively. But if you do your job, you’re going to see that I’m 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.
We’re saying this because of the experience that we have of being in Glasgow, being in Scotland, and the reaction to Celtic not winning.
Yes, understand me well. I understand that perfectly. I understand that perfectly. And people have the right to be not happy. So, I understand that.
In all my clubs that I went, connection with the fans was spot on. Now, I came in the middle of the season. They were winning, we lose. So, I need time. I understand the context. I understand that Celtic is Celtic. I understand that the culture here, it could be different and so on. I understand everything.
But I don’t like to promise things. I could have been the guy saying that I’m going to promise that we’re going to 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 get back on track because we’ve been on track because the season is like that. I realise where I am because if I’m not mistaken, we are only second. And we control, 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.
And 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 I accept it.
What do you think? Some of the criticism is unfair then?
I’m not here to talk about being unfair or fair. People can say, you are different from the guy next to you. You are different from the guy next to you.
(Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)
Maybe you’re 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.
How much time should fans expect to wait then? Second isn’t good enough at this club?
I didn’t say that second was good. 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.
You told me about time. I’m not saying, 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. I have to win games. And 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, every day we train. Every day you try to be better. Every time you try to improve. This is something that I can quantify. But after that, the time is subjective. The time is to win games. So that’s why I cannot answer your question.
What do you expect from Rangers?
Again, a rivalry game. The coach is going to have, the manager is going to have the same description as myself with their players. It’s going to be a big game.
I know that at this moment, we don’t have the result that we want. So they are going to try to maximise that. But us, we are ready to accept this challenge. We are ready to face this team because we know that we play at Celtic Park. We know that we want to do well. And we are going to do well.
Any injury news?
No.