Bullish Nancy shows no fear of being fired yet the Parkhead faithful show fury after derby defeat.

Wilfried Nancy stated he did not fear dismissal, claiming, “We are extremely close to things turning around,” even after sliding worryingly close to the exit with a heavy defeat by Rangers.

A Second-Half Meltdown Results in Derby Defeat

Celtic were in front the visitors at half-time but a disastrous second period let Rangers to move level on points with the defending Scottish Premiership champions. Nancy, who was hired in December, has now presided over six defeats in his first eight fixtures.

“We are together at the club,” stated Nancy.

Questioned about whether he was concerned, he replied: “It’s not on my mind. I concentrate on discovering solutions to help my team to be good on small moments.

Supporters' Anger Outside Parkhead

Celtic’s support voiced their fury – aimed at the board and manager – by gathering at full time. Club directors are reportedly likely to re-appoint the former boss, who steered the club during a caretaker period last year, if Nancy departs.

“The outcomes [that leads to pressure]. And that’s the reality for the moment. But by saying that’s how it is, it doesn’t mean that I am pessimistic. Absolutely not. My point is we are on the cusp, really, really close to reverse our form.”

“Really, Really Close”

The coach highlights the fact Celtic can perform strongly for one half at a time. For instance, were it not for wastefulness in front of goal they would have been better than 1-0 up. “I saw enough aside from the fact that we haven’t scored more goals,” he said. “I acknowledge that we lost, but I must remain fair.

“The level we had at times was really, really, really high. This is the reality. I could not say that if it was different. But that’s why, in terms of results, I mentioned it's a repeating pattern. Which is why I feel we are really close to getting it right. But for the moment: small things.”

“There were many, many good things that we did, like today again. The issue now it’s about consistency. My narrative would not be the same. Therefore I firmly believe the team can to get back on track.”

Röhl’s Cautious Response

The victorious boss played down talk of a title charge even after what appeared to be a landmark win. “We take it game by game, then we can really build up something here,” he said. “The faith in the squad is outstanding.”