Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic start has been somewhat eventful.
Much of the narrative before his arrival surrounded the difference in culture between MLS and Scotland, and how much Nancy would have to adapt.
So it was far from ideal when Nancy lost all of his first four games in charge, in a start unprecedented in Celtic’s history.
Celtic fans called for Nancy to be sacked at Tannadice, where things reached a new low. But Sunday’s win over Aberdeen was a glimmer of hope.
And with questions over whether players are buying into his new formation, Benjamin Nygren has offered his answer.
Benjamin Nygren on Wilfried Nancy at Celtic
Nygren is working with his third manager in six months at Celtic.
And given how abrupt Nancy’s change in system was, the midfielder will especially be feeling this change.
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Speaking to the media ahead of the Hoops’ trip to Livingston, Nygren was asked about the change from a back four to a back three.
His response was: “I don’t know if we played four…
“I’ve had a lot of managers who play in a little bit different ways, but I think in the end, it’s football.
“And I think it’s something maybe people around talk about more than I think – I don’t think it’s that big of a deal or that complicated. It’s football, you can see it from so many perspectives.
“For example, the team I played in before, on paper we played 4-3-3, but in the game, you could say that we played a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2 or sometimes even two in the back when we pushed both wing backs up, for example.
“How it is on paper and in the actual game, is very different, and you can see it from so many perspectives.
“It’s not like you are static on the pitch.
“I’ve played all systems from when I was young – I think I’ve played all different systems, three-line, four-line, five-line, you know, all of them.
“And I’ve played so many positions, but in the end, it’s football – you move on the pitch, it’s about having chemistry with your teammates and all of this. So, yeah, it’s nothing I think about too much.
“The manager has a different way of playing but at the end it’s football. I don’t think it’s too much of a difference as it’s 11 versus 11 on the pitch.”
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Benjamin Nygren’s Celtic career so far
Sweden international Nygren was a mainstay for Nordsjaelland before being picked up by Rodgers in the summer.
Unlike other summer signings, he was thrown in to start games straight away. He started the first game of the season against St Mirren, scoring his first goal in the next fixture against Aberdeen.
Martin O’Neill used Nygren in a different role, being rewarded when he scored in the 3-1 win over Feyenoord.
And for Nancy, he feels nailed on for the right number ten spot.
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