Celtic’s appointment of a new manager is reportedly edging closer.
Wilfried Nancy has been granted permission by Columbus Crew to commence talks, having been made Dermot Desmond’s number one target.
The Frenchman was named 2024’s MLS Coach of the Year, having led the Crew to several trophies and an unlikely CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
His assistant manager’s pre-existing relationship with Hoops Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale has also been crucial in putting him on the club’s radar.
But that isn’t his only Celtic connection, as he discussed in 2023.
What Wilfried Nancy said about Celtic fans in 2023
Alistair Johnston was signed by Nancy at Montreal, spending a year there before moving onto Celtic.
The Canadian was thrown straight in at the deep end by Ange Postecoglou, starting in a 2-2 draw at Ibrox with Josip Juranovic being moved to left-back.
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And Nancy had a classy message for Johnston when he saw how well he was doing in Glasgow – he even praised the Hoops fans.
He said in 2023: “I’m going to tell you a little anecdote, I was very proud of Alistair.
“Usually, I don’t look at the comments from fans after a game because it’s not important to me. But I have been reading what the Celtic fans said about Alistair.
“What made me most proud is that they said he was very calm, very tidy, and very composed with the ball. Very knowledgeable comments.
“I showed it to my assistant manager Kwame Ampadu and we were both delighted and thrilled. You see, the thing with Alistair was that when he arrived in Montreal, he wasn’t like that at all!
“The staff and I did a lot of work with him and he’s clearly a far better player now. So I was super proud for Alistair.
“I do this job to see my players succeed. We contributed with the staff to this player’s growth. It is a pleasure to see him have this experience at his club.
“I told Alistair, if he adapted my method of being calm in possession, he would be able to play in any club and with any manager.
“If that manager wants him to play direct, he can do that. If he wants to play a little shorter in terms of passing, he will be able to do that too.
“So yes, I certainly have followed his career in Scotland. That’s why I do this job. I don’t expect recognition from the players, but inside I am happy.”
Alistair Johnston and Celtic’s injury list
Johnston is frustratingly one of a number of players that Nancy won’t be able to get straight to work with.
It feels like years since we saw Jota in action – he suffered serious ligament damage in May and remains out of action for the foreseeable future.
Cameron Carter-Vickers is also out for several months with an achilles issue. He, Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho were remarkably all injured in the same game.
After a magical breakthrough week under Martin O’Neill, Callum Osmand was stretchered off against Midtjylland, ending his run of form abruptly.
Full-backs Marcelo Saracchi and Colby Donovan are both also on the recovery table (if there’s any space left on it, that is). Their estimated return dates aren’t yet known.
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