Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic start has been far from ideal.
The new Hoops boss went on an unprecedented run of four straight defeats in his first four games, giving him an immediate uphill battle.
Nancy had seemingly found his feet with a couple of wins over Aberdeen and Livingston, but Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Motherwell was the lowest point yet.
Now, his first Glasgow Derby is staring him in the face, and many Celtic fans have lost faith in him already.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Celtic Park showdown, Nancy came out swinging.
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Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic battle cry
Nancy has been difficult to read in the media, often trying to come across as level-headed but still leaving fans unconvinced.
But just as the conference was getting underway at Lennoxtown, the Frenchman got going with an extraordinary seven-minute answer.
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But speaking at his presser on Friday, he unleashed an incredible monologue, accusing the media of ‘killing’ him.
Asked if he can still get the team in his image, Nancy said: “Yes, step by step. And you can imagine.
“I know that your job is to attack me or to ask 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 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 a pre-season. I know why.
“I came – two days after, I have a game. And a game that we should’ve won, by the way. If I’m not mistaken, you know the way that it happened.
“So now, the reality is – before I came, I knew that if I didn’t win games, I’m gonna 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 happens. 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…
““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.
“Like tomorrow, 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.
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“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.
“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 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 that we are going to do everything to do it. I am here for that. And after that, yes I want to win every game. Yes I want to bring titles to Celtic. Yes I want to create memories. 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 ‘ah, I know that if he gets in this position, we are going to be able to outplay the opposition, but for the moment he is 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 unexpected. You don’t win, you get killed.
“You win, okay.”
Extraordinary stuff… but with how this season has gone, are you really surprised?
Where does Wilfried Nancy go from here?
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