Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy acknowledged fans’ boos after a 3-0 home defeat to Roma but insisted the heavy loss did not leave him worried, despite the blow to their Europa League prospects. The Scottish champions were three goals down at half-time following an early Liam Scales own goal and a second-half brace from Evan Ferguson, leaving supporters vocal in their displeasure at both the interval and full-time after a weekend defeat to Premiership leaders Hearts.
Nancy said he respected the supporters and understood their reaction. He told TNT Sports that the fans are key to the club and that their frustration was understandable. He added that, while the result was not what the team wanted, he saw encouraging signs after the break.
‘The reality is we are not able to cope with the intensity,’ Nancy said, but he praised the players’ second-half response. He liked the way the side played with closer proximity between players to relieve pressure and felt the team showed a positive reaction, even if it was not enough to change the outcome. Nancy also said the early own goal was unhelpful and that Celtic deserved at least a goal to alter the game’s dynamic.
The defeat made Nancy the first Celtic manager to lose his opening two games, a poor run that compounds the club’s concerns as they prepare for the Scottish League Cup final against St Mirren at Hampden Park on Sunday. Nancy said the plan was to rest and prepare for that final and stressed that his players’ belief remained strong, which he sees as the most important factor.
Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart offered a bleaker assessment, saying the result ‘breaks my heart’ and lamenting the lack of atmosphere and urgency at Celtic Park. Hart told TNT Sports that the stadium should provide magic and energy but that it was missing, and he urged the club’s leadership to bring fans, players and management back together. ‘This is such a special football club when it’s united,’ he said, warning that past success cannot be relied upon indefinitely.
Sky Sports reporter Adam Binnie, reporting from Celtic Park, noted that two defeats in four days underline a difficult start to Nancy’s tenure. He said Celtic were outclassed on the night and that the result was far from ideal preparation ahead of Sunday’s cup final.