Wilfried Nancy’s got too much on his plate to be worrying about hysteria in the Scottish media.
The Celtic boss lost his first game in charge against Hearts on Sunday, but he’s straight back in home action against Roma in his European introduction.
Nancy has dismissed the media panic, saying that he mutes his and the club’s name on Twitter.
But that doesn’t mean that he won’t benefit from people defending him. Hoops legend Paul Lambert knows the club much better than most, and also knows a thing or two about management.
And for him, the ongoing media hysteria is ‘ridiculous’.
Predict one Celtic player to impress against Roma
Paul Lambert’s fierce defence of Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy
In over 250 appearances for the Celts, Lambert won eight trophies, playing a leading role in the club’s return to the top of Scottish football.
He is also one of just two men to captain Celtic in a European final, along with, of course, Billy McNeill.
READ MORE: Wilfried Nancy clarifies stance on media ‘attacks’ in firm response to Celtic storm
And the Champions League-winning midfielder is having none of the criticism of Nancy.
Lambert said, via The Celtic Way: “There’s only one managerial formula in Glasgow, and it’s winning. The game is all about players.
“It doesn’t matter what system Nancy plays. If the players are good, they will get on board. Good players will adapt to any system.”
“The criticism of Nancy after one game is unbelievable. I guarantee you, if you said to the Celtic lads, ‘We are going with a back three’, they’ll be able to play it with their eyes shut. It is because Celtic lost the game that he is being scrutinised.
“I heard people having a pop over the tactics board out. Nancy can do what he wants as he is the Celtic manager!
“If people think it’s right or wrong, it doesn’t matter. That’s his way. Hopefully, the one thing he will get a handle on very quickly at Celtic is the winning aspect of it.
“I mean, a lot has been made of the fact that he doesn’t play with width in terms of wingers, and he likes to play with two holding midfielders.
“At Dortmund, when we won the Champions League, I was one of two sitters and we attacked with the wing-backs, an offensive midfielder and two strikers, so we were pushing forward with five players.
“That’s a similar system that Nancy is trying to create at Celtic.
“I also played under Martin O’Neill, who had two sitters in the shape of myself and Neil Lennon. I knew right away that we could play in the same Celtic team together and we were a hugely successful team both in Scotland and in Europe.
“Against Hearts, Nancy’s system was not the issue. Losing the first match was. I get back to it, if you have good players, systems don’t matter.”
Have the Scottish media been fair with Wilfried Nancy in his first week?
Celtic performances in Wilfried Nancy’s first match
Celtic’s change of system changed the demands on certain players against Hearts, particularly in the wide areas.
Some players responded better than others. Yang Hyun-Jun looked positive, whilst Kieran Tierney had one of his best games of the season from wide centre-back.
But Reo Hatate wasn’t involved as much as usual, playing in a more advanced role. Sebastian Tounekti’s struggles continued, despite his new role as a wing-back.
Will Nancy stick with the same eleven, or are opportunities pending for other Hoops players against Roma? All will be revealed…
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