Unbowed Wilfried Nancy does not fear dismissal however supporters unleash wrath following derby defeat.

The under-pressure manager stated he had no concerns about dismissal, maintaining, “The team is very near to things turning around,” in the wake of edging perilously close to the exit with a comprehensive defeat by their arch-rivals.

Another Collapse Leads to Old Firm Defeat

Celtic had led their oldest rivals at the break but a second-half capitulation enabled Rangers to draw level on points with the current Scottish Premiership champions. The French coach, who was hired in December, has now overseen six defeats in his last eight matches.

“We are together at the club,” insisted the manager.

Asked directly about his own future, the 48-year-old responded: “It’s not on my mind. I think about finding ways to aid my players to improve on the fine details.

Protest On Display

The fans displayed their anger – aimed at the dugout and directors – by gathering at Parkhead. Club directors are reportedly likely to re-appoint the former boss, who steered the club during a temporary stint before Nancy was hired, should a change be made.

“Wins and losses [that leads to pressure]. So this is the reality for the moment. However when I say that’s how it is, it doesn’t mean that I am a defeatist guy. No. What I mean we are really close, extremely close to reverse our form.”

Nancy’s Persistent Belief

He highlights the fact the side play well for one half at a time. For instance, if not for wastefulness in front of goal they would have been more than 1-0 up. “The performance had merit other than the fact that we missed a second goal,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but I must remain fair.

“The performance we had at stages was really, really, really high. That is a fact. I could not say that if it was not the case. But that’s why, when it comes to wins, I mentioned it's a repeating pattern. Which is why I said that we are really close to a shift in fortunes. Currently: details, details, details.”

“There were many, many good things that we did, once more. However comes down to consistency. My message would not be if I didn't believe it. This is why I firmly believe we will manage to turn things around.”

Röhl’s Cautious Response

The victorious boss refused to contemplate a serious challenge even after what appeared to be a landmark win. “Step by step, then we can gradually build momentum,” he said. “The belief in the group is immense.”

Jonathan Lawrence
Jonathan Lawrence

Elara Vance is an industrial engineer and sustainability advocate with over a decade of experience in optimizing manufacturing processes.