Are Nancy’s ‘uncomfortable’ Celtic ready for Old Firm?

A poor performance from Roma followed a poor first defeat at Hearts. They were dismantled by St Mirren in the League Cup match before being disbanded by Dundee United.

The success of back-to-back victories against Aberdeen and Livingston, which gave Wilfried Nancy and Celtic hints of potential green shoots, led to seven goals scored.

However, Motherwell trampled those into the Fir Park turf on Tuesday when the reigning Scottish champions delivered one of the worst performances of the Frenchman’s brief but chaotic tenure.

Nancy is again under pressure after his fifth defeat in his first seven games, which is the longest he has ever kept a clean sheet.

The champions travel to Celtic Park’s second league Old Firm derby on Saturday knowing Rangers can move up in points with a win despite their own disappointing start to the season with a 17th loss of 2025.

In the course of a few months, that seemed like an impossible thought, but in Celtic’s cataclysmic fall, autumn has become a lifetime.

Although the sample size is small, Nancy must have had the biggest spring in his Celtic boss career so far.

After a ridiculous Saturday game that ended with Livingston with three points following a victory over Aberdeen, had quietened the early clamor for his exit.

Nancy emphasized before the game that he was constantly “seeing improvements.”

After Celtic were taught by a magnificent Motherwell, who were expertly led by Jens Berthel Askou, and were met with a raised eyebrow, heads would have been shaking at this statement.

The Motherwell manager predicted a “great game of football, dynamic, intense, and high-tempo at times” on Sportsound’s pre-match program.

The home side outperformed their visitors in every way, but only the home side lived up to those expectations.

After Celtic won their first game against Celtic in 35 attempts, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton declared on Premier Sports that “Celtic want to play the way Motherwell did.”

After the game, Nancy told the media, “Progress, there is progress.” “But again tonight, where we are, and the opposition we faced was challenging.

“This is the reality,” the statement read. I’m not saying I’m okay with that, but rather that I do. This is a fact, in my opinion.

The Celtic manager admitted that Motherwell wasn’t handled well by his side. A Motherwell team that suffered a narrow defeat at Rangers on Saturday.

Although Danny Rohl’s side’s journey to the east end is far from straightforward, the bigger picture is that they will be excited. After all, Fir Park’s plan of success was not rocket science.

They hounded Celtic and didn’t give in to their two-goal advantage until late in the second half.

Hugh: After every defeat, Nancy comes out with absolute fury about performance, positioning, and players moving forward. Does the board actually hear what is being said as utter nonsense?

Luke, who wants Nancy to work, was really disappointed tonight. I firmly believe that if he had his players, this would be good, and that the team’s shortcomings lie more in player performance and coaching than in a system. Having said that, tonight provided a chance to demonstrate that he has the willpower to make changes and the intelligence to make them happen when things don’t. I’d wager that he failed on both counts.

Patrick: I’d be surprised if Nancy stays at his job after this and adopts Kasper Schmeichel with him after a terrible season. The board must not allow this to continue. It’s unwise to mess around with a squad that is already performing poorly.

Benny: This manager must have done this with his playground tricks. That was similar to watching park kids rush forward and leave the worst player to defend. This Celtic team has been destroyed by Nancy and Brendan Rodgers, who also serves the league as a plate to Rangers or Hearts.