Bullish Wilfried Nancy insists he is not worried about being fired yet the Parkhead faithful show anger following derby defeat.
The Celtic boss stated he did not fear the sack, claiming, “I believe we are very near to a turnaround,” despite sliding worryingly close to being fired with a heavy defeat by the Ibrox side.
A Second-Half Meltdown Leads to Old Firm Loss
The Hoops had led their oldest rivals at the interval but a collapse after the break allowed Rangers to move level on points with the current Scottish Premiership champions. Nancy, who was brought in in December, has now been in charge for six losses in his first eight matches.
“We are together with the board,” stated Nancy.
Asked directly about whether he was concerned, he said: “It’s not on my mind. I think about working out methods to help my team to excel on the fine details.
Supporters' Anger Outside Parkhead
Hundreds of supporters displayed their anger – towards the board and manager – in their hundreds outside the stadium. The board are thought to be considering to return to the former boss, who steered the club during a caretaker period previously, should a change be made.
“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. So this is the reality for the moment. But when I say this is the reality, I am not saying that I am pessimistic. Not at all. What I mean we are really close, imminently close to turn things around.”
Nancy’s Persistent Belief
The coach highlights the fact the side play well for 45 minutes at a time. Indeed, but for missed chances they would have been better than 1-0 up. “I saw enough other than the fact that we missed a second goal,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but I must remain balanced.
“The performance we had at stages was exceptionally high. That is a fact. I wouldn't say that if it was untrue. That is the reason, when it comes to wins, I mentioned this is the same story. That’s why I feel we are really close to things turning around. Right now: the fine margins.”
“We produced a lot of encouraging signs that we did, like today again. However it’s about consistency. My outlook would be different if I didn't believe it. This is why I am convinced we’re going to be able to turn things around.”
Röhl’s Cautious Response
Danny Röhl was cautious about a title charge in spite of what seemed like a statement victory. “Step by step, then we can really build up momentum,” he said. “The belief in the squad is immense.”