Unbowed Celtic's manager shows no fear of dismissal yet the Parkhead faithful display anger following derby defeat.
The Celtic boss declared he had no concerns about losing his job, claiming, “The team is really close to changing our fortunes,” in the wake of moving dangerously close to being fired with a heavy loss to Rangers.
Another Collapse Leads to Derby Disaster
Celtic had led Rangers at half-time but a disastrous second period let Rangers to draw level on points with the reigning Scottish Premiership champions. The former MLS manager, who was hired in December, has now overseen six setbacks in eight games.
“There is unity with the board,” said Nancy.
Asked directly about the speculation, he responded: “That’s not my focus. I concentrate on discovering solutions to help my team to excel on small moments.
Supporters' Anger Erupts
The fans displayed their anger – towards the hierarchy – by gathering at Parkhead. The board are thought to be considering to re-appoint the interim manager, who enjoyed a successful caretaker period before Nancy was hired, if the Frenchman were sacked.
“Wins and losses [that leads to pressure]. So this is the reality for the moment. But in stating that’s how it is, it doesn’t mean that I am a defeatist guy. Absolutely not. What I mean we are on the cusp, really, really close to turn things around.”
Nancy’s Persistent Belief
He highlights the fact his team play well for 45 minutes at a time. Indeed, but for missed chances they could have been better than 1-0 up. “There were positives other than the fact that we didn't take more goals,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but I must remain objective.
“The performance we had at certain moments was of top quality. That happened. And I would not speak so positively if it was different. Therefore, when it comes to wins, I said we've seen this before. Which is why I believe we are really close to getting it right. Right now: small things.”
“There were plenty of positives that we did, once more. The issue now is sustaining it. My narrative would be different if it was not the case. This is why I firmly believe we will manage to fix this.”
Röhl’s Cautious Response
The victorious boss refused to contemplate a title charge even after what seemed like a statement victory. “We take it game by game, so we can develop momentum,” he said. “The confidence in the team is outstanding.”
