Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 15:00, Sunday
- Maiden win (and non-defeat) for Nancy he had lost his first four games (all competitive) in charge. Took the pressure off but bizarrely Celtic were so dominant but very close to end up with a 1-1 draw!
- Hearts consolidate their top position with 2-1 home victory v Sevco, and possibly the gaps should have been even wider.
- Celtic in second with games in hand, on 35pts +15GD, 6pts & +7GD behdind Hearts, but 5pts ahead of Motherwell & 6 ahead of Sevco.
- Large protests outside the ground pre-match
- Forrest scores for the 27th consecutive season, equal to the record of Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox. Incredible.
Summary
“I see people calling for him to leave the place. As a coach myself, I think it’s too early to say that.”Let him work and let him cook and judge him maybe at the end of the season.”
Thierry Henry on Nancy (Dec 2025)
Aberdeen will “prepare as if the best Celtic are going to turn up” when the sides meet in Glasgow on Sunday, says Nicky Devlin pre match
“The players did really, really well. “We hit five times the post and I’ve never seen that in my life. We deserved more. I can see an improvement every game. I’m happy for the players because they deserved it. “Many teams could’ve been down with all the chances we had but we kept going wave after wave after wave and I’m really proud of that. “Good for the players just to validate what they did because I know that it was not easy for them. They need a bit of time. I’m happy for the players. I’m happy for the fans, I’m happy for the club, I’m happy for the board. “We chase anybody. The idea is to compete with ourselves. After that, the standings, we’ll see.”
Wilfried Nancy tells BBC Sportsound
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: “We were on the back foot from minute one. Celtic were on top of us. We can do better, how we attack the game this way.
“Then, of course a red card. The start of the second half, we were a bit lucky. Some good saves but also we need some luck. We survived that moment.
“Kjartan [Kjartansson] and Kenan [Bilalovic] did really well in that moment and it gave us a chance to grab a point. We were disappointed after the game because we were so close.”
” don’t agree with everything Wilfried Nancy has done and I wasn’t at Celtic Park today, but it sounds like loads of chances missed once again. Celtic’s greatest issue has not being able to create and convert, and that’s not on Wilfried… He has got what he’s got and it’s not top drawer.
ExCelt Chris Sutton
“It’s tough to take,” Ralston admits. “When you’re used to so much success and you’re used to winning everything there is to win, to then go through a patch like this, there’s no hiding that it’s difficult. “There’s no hiding that you feel it. That’s just complete honesty. We’re not robots. We’re human beings. I certainly care about it deeply and we all care about it as well. “We’ve got a squad of players in there that have been hurt by the recent turn of events in terms of results. There’s no question of that and that’s not a secret. “But at the same time, it’s the God’s honest truth, we’re all together as a squad. We’re out there doing recovery, we’re in the dressing room, we’re eating lunch together. “We’ve got a good togetherness with the group still and still being positive on things because we know we’ve got the talent, the belief and the experience to turn things around. “On Sunday, we’ve got another opportunity for every single one of us to leave it out there, both offensively and defensively, to win a game of football. “That’s what we need to start with. It’s a game at a time to then pick up and I’m sure in the end we’ll be successful.”
Ralston
Randombloke of KDS:
Looking at it as a one-off match the football was very enjoyable and, as many others have already said, we’d have had the game done and dusted by half time if we had any sort of competent striker who’s hamstrings aren’t made of wheatabix in the squad. Arguably though, it’s one of our best performances of the season so far in that I can’t think of many other games where we’ve been on the front foot for almost the whole game. Even the best of the Rodgers and MON performances this season we’ve only impressed for periods of 15-20 minutes then fell back into mediocrity.
Downside obviously is that we are still incredibly fragile at the back. Aberdeen showed zero attacking threat from open play all day, but it still only took one bad decision from Scales and some indifferent goalkeeping from Schmeichel to gift them an equaliser.
We’ve lived with that kind of naïve defending many times in the past, and we could write off if we’d taken our chances and been 4 or more ahead at that point. But until we start taking those chances, we need to be a bit less gung-ho in the transition.
So, in balance, some promising signs that the players are starting to get to grips with Nancy’s system, and a bit of resilience in not completely falling apart when Aberdeen scored. But still a lot of doubts and a lot of work for Nancy to do to turn it around.
He’s bought himself a bit of time, but he needs to win the next two on the road and then get a big performance out of the team against the huns if he’s going to start winning over the support.
Misc: ‘Bright signs for Nancy’s Celtic’published at 17:37 GMT 21 December 17:37 GMT 21 December FT: Celtic 3-1 Aberdeen Umir Irfan Football tactics correspondent Wilfried Nancy will be a success at Celtic if they give him time, IMO. Think Celtic have enough of a quality gap on teams in their league for a style like this to work consistently. They do need players that suit the system a little more. Signs are bright though, to me, against Aberdeen so far and in the game v Dundee United.
Teams
Celtic
Manager Wilfried Nancy
Formation 03 – 4 – 2 – 1
1, Schmeichel, Goalkeeper
63, Tierney, Defender
6, Trusty, Defender
56, Ralston, Defender; subbed for C. Donovan at 82mins
14, McCowan, Midfielder subbed for L. Scales at 69mins
42, McGregor, Midfielder (c), Captain
27, Engels, Midfielder 45’+1, Yellow Card at 45mins plus 1
13, Yang Hyun-Jun, Midfielder subbed for J. Forrest at 70mins
38, Maeda, Attacking Midfielder
8, Nygren, Attacking Midfielder
24, Kenny, Striker subbed for S. Yamada at 70mins
Subs:
51, Donovan, Substitute
49, Forrest, Substitute
28, Paulo Bernardo, Substitute
25, Inamura, Substitute
47, Murray, Substitute
5, Scales, Substitute
4, Simpson-Pusey, Substitute
12, Sinisalo, Substitute
18, Yamada, Substitute
Goals:
B. Nygren (39′)
K. Tierney (88′)
J. Forrest (90’+2)
Assists:
D. Maeda (39′), C. Donovan (88′), C. McGregor (90’+2)
Aberdeen
Manager Jimmy Thelin
Formation 5 – 4 – 1
1, Mitov, Goalkeeper
5, Knoester, Defender
22, Milne, Defender
2, Devlin, Defender (c), Captain
28, Jensen, Wing BackYellow Card at 84minsK. Nisbet 89′, subbed for K. Nisbet at 89mins
38, Lobban, Wing Back D. Lobban45’+3, Red Card at 45mins plus 3
17, Karlsson, MidfielderG. Shinnie 54′, subbed for G. Shinnie at 54mins
16, Armstrong, Midfielder18′, Yellow Card at 18 minutes
7, Aouchiche, Midfielder , substituted for K. Kjartansson at 68 minutes
81, Keskinen, Midfielder ‘, substituted for E. Gyamfi at 54 minutes
27, Lazetic, Striker , substituted for K. Bilalović at 68 minutes
Subs:
14, Bilalovic, Substitute
77, Gyamfi, Substitute
6, Heltne Nilsen, Substitute
29, Kjartansson, Substitute
11, Milanovic, Substitute
15, Nisbet, Substitute
10, Clarkson, Substitute
4, Shinnie, Substitute
13, Suman, Substitute
Goals: Bilalovic 74
Assists:
Att::58,798
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-aberdeen-pre-match-thread-sunday-21-decem-t144087.html
- Match https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-aberdeen-live-match-thread-ft-3-1-nygren–t144098.html
- Post https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-aberdeen-post-match-thread-ft-3-1-nygren–t144100.html
- MoTM https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/motm-v-aberdeen-t144099.html
Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 72.8% Aberdeen 27.2%
Shots
Celtic 31 Aberdeen 10
Shots on target
Celtic 10 Aberdeen 2
Total touches inside the opposition box
Celtic 60 Aberdeen 18
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 1 Aberdeen 7
Aerial duels won
Celtic 12 Aberdeen 9
Fouls committed
Celtic 12 Aberdeen 13
Corners
Celtic 8 Aberdeen 4
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Celtic 31 Aberdeen 10
Shots on target
Celtic 10 Aberdeen 2
Shots off target
Celtic 15 Aberdeen 1
Attempts out of box
Celtic 10 Aberdeen 4
Hit woodwork
Celtic 4 Aberdeen 0
Total offsides
Celtic 3 Aberdeen 1
Distribution
Total passes
Celtic 698 Aberdeen 266
Pass accuracy %
Celtic 91.4 Aberdeen 70.3
Backward passes
Celtic 90 Aberdeen 32
Forward passes
Celtic 186 Aberdeen 114
Total long balls
Celtic 40 Aberdeen 70
Successful final third passes
Celtic 279 Aberdeen 34
Total crosses
Celtic 39 Aberdeen 6
Defence
Total tackles
Celtic 13 Aberdeen 9
Won tackle %
Celtic 53.8 Aberdeen 66.7
Fouls committed
Celtic 12 Aberdeen 13
Total yellow cards
Celtic 1 Aberdeen 2
Total clearances
Celtic 13 Aberdeen 40
Pre Match Facts
Celtic remain unbeaten in their last 32 meetings with Aberdeen in all competitions (W25 D7) since a 0-1 league defeat in May 2018.
Aberdeen have lost 35 and won just one of their last 38 league visits to Celtic (D2), going winless in their last 12 (D2 L10).
Celtic have lost four successive matches in all competitions for the first time since January 1978 under Jock Stein. In the club’s entire history, only in October 1947 and April 1953 have they ever suffered five defeats in a row.
Since the start of October, Aberdeen have earned more points in the Scottish Premiership than any other side coming into this weekend’s fixtures (23), winning seven of their 10 league games in this time (D2 L1).
Celtic have scored 26 goals from 33.5 expected goals in the Scottish Premiership this season, an underperformance of -7.5. Meanwhile, Aberdeen have scored 18 goals from 22.1 xG, an underperformance of -4.1. These are the two biggest negative xG differences of any sides in Scotland’s top tier in 2025-26.
Articles
17-in-a-row for Forrest as Celtic take all three points
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
Share
21 Dec 2025, 5:09 pm
Scottish Premiership
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Celtic Park
CELTIC…3
(Nygren 39, Tierney 88, Forrest 90 +2)
ABERDEEN…1
(Bilalovic 74)
Celtic ran out 3-1 winners at Paradise this afternoon against Aberdeen, with James Forrest getting in on the scoring act to extend his scoring run to an extraordinary 17 consecutive seasons.
Much like at Tannadice during the week, Celtic found themselves with a big chance to take the lead early in the match when Daizen Maeda sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal towards Johnny Kenny, who was unable to make the required connection to send the ball in to the net from a few yards out.
That missed opportunity followed on from a Benjamin Nygren effort on goal which rose over the bar, and was quickly followed by an attempt from Arne Engels, whose powerful strike from the edge of the area followed the same trajectory as Nygren’s shot.
Whilst Celtic continued to press forward and look for opportunities, Aberdeen also looked to pose an attacking threat of their own and with 20 minutes on the clock, a brilliantly-timed sliding block from Auston Trusty prevented Topi Keskinen from hitting the target with a powerful shot from inside the box.
There was another glaring opportunity for Celtic to take the lead and this time the chance fell to Daizen Maeda. A cross in to the box was spilled by Aberdeen keeper, Mitov, and Maeda was first to react to the loose ball six yards out from goal but his strike drifted narrowly wide of the post.
Missed chances rapidly became the theme of the first half for Celtic, and Arne Engels was the next Celt to find himself shooting wide of the target from inside the box after some really well-worked build-up play on the right-hand side from the Hoops, who were coming closer to the opener with every attack.
The goal that Celtic deserved came with just over five minutes of the half remaining. Some excellent work from Yang to win the ball back in the midfield resulted in Luke McCowan threading the ball to Maeda. The Japanese forward whipped the ball across the box and Benjamin Nygren was on hand to slam it in to back of the net.
Luke McCowan came close to doubling Celtic’s lead when he produced a powerful shot from the edge of the box which drew a fine one-handed save from Dimitar Mitov, who rose quickly to tip the ball over the bar.
Just before the break, Aberdeen were reduced to 10 men when Dylan Lobban was shown a red card for hauling Daizen Maeda to the ground as he was running through on goal.
73%
Possession
27%
31
Shots
10
10
Shots On Target
2
8
Corners
4
12
Fouls
13
1
0
Cards
2
1
Within 90 seconds of the restart, Dimitar Mitov had produced two huge saves to keep his side in the match. The first stop came after Auston Trusty’s header towards goal from the back post, whilst the second denied Callum McGregor who lashed a shot towards the target from just inside the area.
The pressure from Celtic continued and Benjamin Nygren went agonisingly close to grabbing his second of the day when he clipped a ball towards the back post which ricocheted off the inside of the post and was gathered by the keeper before it could creep over the line.
The numerical advantage began to tell for Celtic, who were creating opportunities at will as the second half progressed, including a golden opportunity for Arne Engels who got his head to a brilliant cross from Kieran Tierney, but the Belgian’s headed effort crashed off the post and the scoreline remained 1-0.
With a little over 20 minutes remaining, Wilfried Nancy made a triple change, bringing Liam Scales, Shin Yamada and James Forrest on for Yang, Luke McCowan, and Johnny Kenny.
Aberdeen equalised on the counter-attack with 15 minutes left of the match and it was two substitutes who combined to find the goal. Kjartansson fed a good ball through towards Kenan Bilalovic who, in turn, fired a shot towards goal. Kasper Schmeichel got a touch on the ball but it wasn’t enough to keep it out of the net.
With time ticking on, it looked as though the match might be heading for a draw, but with only a few minutes of the 90 remaining, Kieran Tierney popped up with a massive goal to put Celtic back in front.
Colby Donovan picked up the ball on the right wing and swung a ball deep towards the back post, where Tierney was able to finish with his head and give the Hoops the lead.
There was still enough time left for an early Christmas present for James Forrest and Celtic, with the winger grabbing a goal in stoppage time to make it 3-1 to Celtic and extend his scoring record to an incredible 17 consecutive seasons, equalling Bobby Lennox’s Celtic record, with only Jimmy McMenemy ahead on 18 consecutive campaigns.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Ralston (Donovan 82′), Trusty, Tierney, Hyunjun Yang (Forrest 70′), Engels, McGregor, McCowan (Scales 69′), Nygren, Maeda, Kenny (Yamada 70′)
Subs: Simpson-Pusey, Scales, Sinisalo, Yamada, Inamura, Paulo Bernardo, Murray, Forrest, Donovan
Aberdeen: Mitov, Lobban, Devlin, Milne, Knoester, Jensen (Nisbet 89′), Keskinen (Gyamfi 54′), Aouchiche (Kjartansson 68′), Armstrong, Karlsson (Shinnie 54′), Lazetic (Bilalovic 68′)
Subs: Shinnie, Heltne Nilsen, Clarkson, Milanovic, Suman, Bilalovic, Nisbet, Kjartansson, Gyamfi
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c20g36redqzt
Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park
Watch Celtic v Aberdeen highlights
21/12/25
Watch on iPlayer
Wilfried Nancy’s much-needed first win as Celtic manager arrived in incredible fashion as late goals by Kieran Tierney and James Forrest secured a deserved victory over 10-man Aberdeen in a breathtaking Scottish Premiership encounter.
The French manager, who had unprecedently lost his first four games in charge of the side, was already under severe pressure from the Celtic support despite only being in post for 17 days – but his team were utterly dominant on Sunday.
At first, it didn’t look like the improved performance was going to be rewarded.
Kenan Bilalovic’s cool finish for the visitors – who lost Dylan Lobban just before the break to a straight red card – cancelled out Benjamin Nygren’s first-half strike to set Aberdeen up for a frankly ridiculous draw.
Ridiculous, because Celtic had rattled the frame of the goal three times and forced Dimitar Mitov into making two genuinely world-class saves in a whirlwind start to the second half.
So when Bilalovic broke free from the Celtic defence to shoot under Kasper Schmeichel in extraordinary fashion, it seemed unbelievable.
The panicking Parkhead side lost the flow that had created such golden chances but were able to then dip into their experience to secure a pivotal three points.
Tierney was on hand to head in Colby Donovan’s delightful cross and spark relief in the stands as well as the dugout.
And Forrest’s stoppage-time finish – the 17th season in a row he’s scored in the Scottish top flight – ensured a first win in five and keeps Celtic within six points of league leaders Hearts with a game in hand.
‘Not at end of storm, but light amid darkness for Nancy at Celtic’
Published
21 December 2025
Celtic ‘rushed’ Nancy appointment – Bonner
Keep up to date with Aberdeen views, news and analysis
Analysis: Nancy avoids nightmare before Christmas
Graphic showing possession, shots, shots on target, xG and goals data for each team
Talk about surviving an almighty scare.
It was perhaps on-brand in these strange times at Celtic that Nancy’s first victory was earned in the most uneasy way imaginable.
For long enough, it should have been the most straight-shooting, up-the-road-for-Christmas win, such was their relentless attack.
Veteran Sportsound pundits Pat Bonner and Willie Miller, who have played and witnessed more games than any of us could imagine, were not using the words, “We’ve never seen anything like this” lightly.
Thirty-one shots on goal, 10 on target and an xG of 4.53 – Celtic should have been out of sight.
When they were pegged back, there was real concern this was going to be another nightmare before Christmas.
And while that profligacy could not be left at the door of Nancy, how the Frenchman would be able to continue after such a calamity would have been of grave concern.
The win itself far from drags him – and Celtic – out of the woods but the overall performance should help. It’s easy to lose sight of it in all these bewildering numbers but the champions were very easy on the eye.
While Aberdeen didn’t put them under much pressure, they had sustained success in comparison to the small spells of special stuff during the four proceeding defeats.
Nancy will be able to enjoy Christmas a little bit more now – but he ought to aware this first win will far from have wiped out the doubts of many.
What they said
01:36
Media caption,
Nancy on first win as Celtic boss
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy: “The players did really, really well. We hit the post four times – I’ve never seen that in my life. We deserved more. I can see an improvement every game. I’m happy for the players because they deserved it.
“Many teams could’ve been down with all the chances we had but we kept going wave after wave after wave and I’m really proud of that. It’s good for the players to validate what they did because I know that it was not easy for them.
“I’m happy for the players, I’m happy for the fans, I’m happy for the club, I’m happy for the board. We chase anybody. The idea is to compete with ourselves. After that, the standings, we’ll see.”
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: “We were on the back foot from minute one. Celtic were on top of us. We can do better.
“Then of course a red card. The start of the second half, we were a bit lucky. Some good saves but also we need some luck.
“Kjartan [Kjartansson] and Kenan did really well in that moment and it gave us a chance to grab a point. We were disappointed after the game because we were so close.”
‘Not at end of storm, but light amid darkness for Nancy at Celtic’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c20g36redqzt
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce86kxkj309o
ByAmy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park
Published
21 December 2025
Watch Celtic v Aberdeen highlights
21/12/25
Watch on iPlayer
On the winter solstice, some light finally illuminated the darkness of Wilfried Nancy’s opening 17 days as Celtic manager.
At the fifth time of trying, the Frenchman oversaw his first victory after four wretched defeats across the Scottish Premiership, League Cup and Europa League.
It keeps them within six points of leaders Hearts, having played a game fewer, and was likely as deserved a win as he has ever achieved given just how dominant his side were against Aberdeen at Celtic Park.
For 20 second-half minutes, Celtic were scintillating. Like a throwback to the good old days under Brendan Rodgers, Ange Postecoglou or even Martin O’Neill.
With 31 shots on goal, 10 on target and an xG (expected goals) of 4.5, Celtic should have been out of sight. The only thing for supporters to worry about should have been some last-minute Christmas shopping.
But when Kenan Bilalovic thudded his shot under Kasper Schmeichel to draw 10-man Aberdeen inexplicably level with 16 minutes to remaining, concerns were firmly focused on Nancy again.
Since taking change from O’Neill less than three weeks ago, many fans will have wondered if he realised what he’d walked into.
And while Nancy would be forgiven for failing to make sense of Sunday’s ridiculous contest, he’ll not be given so much leeway if the rays of light on show against Aberdeen don’t turn into a full new dawn.
Nancy survives scare against Aberdeen to claim first Celtic win
Keep up to date with Celtic views, news and analysis
Where do huge wins for Hearts & Celtic leave title race?
Scottish Football Podcast
21/12/25
Listen on Sounds
‘It could have been double figures’
Fabulous. Sensational. Unstoppable. Just some of the superlatives the reliably reserved Sportsound pundit Willie Miller used to describe Celtic.
The Aberdeen legend barely had time to speak at the start of the second half as he scribbled down each and every chance Celtic created in a class-above performance.
Auston Trusty was denied by a tremendous Dimitar Mitov save, before Callum McGregor saw his strike magnificently clawed over by the goalkeeper.
Goalscorer Benjamin Nygren clipped the back post, as did Arne Engels in almost a carbon-copy attempt, while Anthony Ralston was denied on the volley.
At that point, only 10 minutes into the second half, Miller had a moment to share his disbelief that it was only 1-0 after Celtic’s “quite incredible pressure.”
And it didn’t stop there.
Mitov met Johnny Kenny’s cross before a Celtic shirt, as Luke McCowan tried his luck twice from distance only to be – yes, you guessed it – stopped by the Bulgarian.
Engels smashed the other post from a matter of yards out, before substitute James Forrest called on Mitov’s magic again.
Quite the recovery from a player whose slack pass led to youngster Dylan Lobban’s first-half sending off.
Graphic showing possession, shots, shots on target, xG and goals data for each team
“There’s great escapes and there’s great escapes,” Miller said on BBC Scotland. “This would be the greatest of all if Aberdeen can get something out of this game.”
Then Bilalovic brought silence to the home stands with his goal and suddenly the mood inside the ground changed.
Celtic’s fluency disappeared. The tension of the past few matches returned.
Ultimately, their numerical advantage won out, Kieran Tierney and Forrest both scoring late on to ensure their side avoided what would have been an embarrassment, given their dominance.
“I noted eight big chances,” added an incredulous Miller. “You add to that the two goals Celtic scored [in the second half] and it is incredible.
“It was just wave after wave, chance after chance and yet Aberdeen still had a wee opportunity to take something from the game.
“If it had had been approaching double figures, I don’t think Aberdeen could’ve complained because Celtic were absolutely fabulous.
“You’ve got to give Wilfried Nancy great praise to stick with his system. They were sensational, absolutely unstoppable, and the only thing that was missing was the final finish.”
Nancy under ‘unbelievable pressure’
01:36
Media caption,
Nancy on first win as Celtic boss
While that final touch remained elusive, the final straw moved closer.
There was no festive cheer at Celtic Park – certainly not pre-match – as boos echoed around the amphitheatre which is more toxic than a tonic for most these days.
Before the game, a large fan protest took place, engulfing much of The Celtic Way outside the stadium. Ironically, such supporters don’t think their club – and its hierarchy – are operating the way Celtic should.
While the anger is far from directed solely on Nancy, his dreadful start has not helped matters. Taking a team which won seven of eight under an interim manager who was a club legend and turning them into the butt of jokes will do that.
The hard-fought win over a 10-man side who played in Prague on Thursday – as deserved as it was – will not banish the concerns some have over his credentials. Nor will it paper over the start to his tenure.
Still, the manager stuck with his preferred 3-4-3 formation, with only one out-and-out central defender – Trusty – starting between two full-backs.
Had things gone wayward here, the clamour to cease such approach would have been deafening.
“That was unbelievable pressure he was under,” former Parkhead goalkeeper Pat Bonner said on Sportsound. “He does give himself a bit of time [with the result].
“It’ll be really interesting who he brings in this January. He’s just got to tighten up those defensive qualities and he might bring in a player to consolidate that.
“I’m sure they must have their homework done to bring in a couple of players that can actually enhance this way of playing and this team.
“If they don’t do that, then there’ll be more questions asked.”
‘I could have …’: Wilfried Nancy drops Celtic appointment bombshell and explains reasoning
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
Frenchman wants as much time as possible to assess squad ahead of January
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy says it was his call to take charge of Celtic in early December rather than delay his arrival – and that he knew the start of his tenure would be difficult.
Nancy made the revelation after landing his first win as Celtic boss at the fifth time of asking following a 3-1 win over Aberdeen at Celtic Park.
The Premiership champions needed two late goals from Kieran Tierney and James Forrest to secure the victory. They had taken a first-half lead through Benjamin Nygren and then Aberdeen had Dylan Lobban sent off just before the break. Nevertheless, they equalised on 75 minutes through Kenan Bilalovic to ensure a nervy ending.
Some Celtic pressure taken off Nancy
Celtic dominated the game and had 31 shots on goal. They hit the woodwork on four occasions. Nancy joked that he didn’t believe in luck until his arrival at Celtic, having watched his team pass up all manner of chances. The importance of this win cannot be overstated, as they remain six points behind leaders Hearts and some pressure has been relieved from the Frenchman.
Nancy explained after the match that he envisioned a difficult start to life as Celtic manager given the hectic schedule after his December 3 arrival – and claimed he could have postponed his arrival from Columbus Crew. However, he wanted the best possible chance to analyse the squad ahead of the January transfer window.
“That’s why I came at this moment,” said Nancy when asked if the past fortnight had made his thoughts clearer on recruitment. “I could have come a little bit later but with the club we decided that it was the right moment because I needed time to assess the team and to evaluate.
“If I was thinking [just] about myself maybe it could have been a little bit later but the timing is the timing. That’s why I accept all the things that have happened. This is new for me and for the players to have four losses, but we have to go through that to see what we have to do and also to see the character of the team, the personality of the team and the personality of the players.
‘Their heads could have gone down’
“My first job is to analyse the team and after that we’ll see what we need, who we’re going to bring if we need to bring someone.”
Nancy was pleased with the way his team responded to Bilalovic’s leveller, which came very much against the run of play. “I’m really proud of what they did because they had so many big chances and suddenly against ten men you concede a goal like this,” he said. “Their heads could have gone down but they didn’t do it. They kept attacking.
“[It was] attack, attack, attack, attack, waves, waves, waves. The two goals we scored were the reward for the grit and the resilience that they showed. The fact that we had lost so many games and they were still able to come back was something I really enjoyed seeing.
“I don’t believe in luck but since I’ve been here I haven’t had luck. It’s true because when we played Hearts, I think about the way they scored the goal, and then after that against Roma we missed a penalty. We have hit the post in almost every game, but the most important thing is the resilience my players had.”