Wilfried Nancy was in a buoyant mood after Celtic’s win at Livingston.
Celtic beat Livingston after a precarious start by Nancy’s side saw the Bhoys go behind twice in the first ten minutes before the Bhoys took control of the game to win 4-2.
The win sees Celtic edge closer to Hearts after Derek McInnes’ side lost at Hibs in the Edinburgh Derby this week.
Speaking post-match, the Celtic manager was asked about the Hoops potentially signing a striker to bolster his squad, and what Nancy replied back to the question not only had the press room in stitches, it also forced a big Celtic confession from one journalist.
Journalist admits he would play for Celtic ‘for nothing’ after Wilfried Nancy transfer joke
The need for Nancy to bring a striker to Celtic has been all too evident not just in the Frenchman’s tenure, but also under Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill.
And at the post-match press conference, one journalist asked, “Do you feel you need a striker in January?”
Nancy replied, “Are you a striker?”
The press room erupted in laughter as the journalist replied, “No. I’ll play if you want. I’d love to play. I’d play for nothing.”
To which the Celtic manager said, “No, listen like I said, ask me this question again in the future. I will answer the same.
“When we have a window, the window is an opportunity for each team to improve their team. So, we’ll see what we are going to, if we’re going to take players, what type of player we’re going to take and so on.
“But step by step, you’re going to get the answer.”
Watch journalist admit he would play for Celtic ‘for nothing’.
The stats that prove Celtic really need a striker this January
Celtic’s last two fixtures have seen Nancy pick up six vital points in the league title race.
Wins against Aberdeen and Livingston not only showed the battling qualities the Bhoys have, but they also proved that a striker is a must for Nancy in the transfer window.
And here are the stats from Fotmob to prove it:
Celtic 3 v 1 Aberdeen
- Total shots: 31
- Shots on target: 10
- Big chances: 8
- Big chances missed: 5
- xG: 4.72
- Goals scored: 3
Livingston 2 v 4 Celtic
- Total shots: 18
- Shots on target: 7
- Big chances: 5
- Big chances missed: 2
- xG: 3.76
- Goals scored: 4
With a better striker, these games would have been won far more comfortably and who knows how the defeats to Hearts, St Mirren and Dundee United would have panned out.
Nancy must look to get a proven goalscorer, a striker with a deadly instinct in front of goal because if he doesn’t, Celtic’s season could unravel very quickly, as could the Frenchman’s Hoops career.
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