“HE MUST LEAVE OR I LEAVE FOR PEACE” WILFRED NANCY DELIVERS BRUTAL POST-MATCH VERDICT THAT STUNS CELTIC PARK AFTER 3:1 HUMILIATION
The fallout from Celtic’s 3–1 defeat in the Scottish League Cup final has intensified after manager Wilfred Nancy delivered a remarkably blunt and emotional post match interview that stunned everyone inside Celtic Park. What was already a painful loss on one of the biggest domestic stages quickly escalated into a moment of reckoning, as Nancy openly acknowledged supporter anger and directly addressed the growing pressure surrounding Arne Engels and Liam Scales.
The final itself was supposed to be a statement occasion for Celtic. Instead, it became a night of frustration, missed opportunities and familiar mistakes. Losing a League Cup final by a 3–1 scoreline was damaging enough, but the manner of the defeat left supporters deeply unsettled. By the time the final whistle sounded, boos rang around the stadium, and the tension was impossible to ignore.
Speaking moments later, Nancy appeared drained but defiant. Rather than soften the blow with diplomatic language, he chose honesty, even if it came at a cost.
“I understand the supporters completely,” Nancy said. “This is a final. When you lose 3–1, there are no excuses. I hear the crowd. I hear what they say about names on the shirt.”
Those words set the tone for an interview that would quickly become headline making.
Nancy then addressed the mounting criticism directed at Engels and Scales, both of whom have faced intense scrutiny throughout the season. While careful not to insult them personally, the Celtic boss did not shy away from responsibility or consequences.
“When fans don’t want certain players on the shirt anymore, that is serious,” he continued. “This club is built on standards. If we cannot meet them in a final, then something has to change.”
The most striking moment came when Nancy linked his own future to that change.
“For peace, there must be decisions,” he said. “Either we move forward with players who can handle this pressure, or I step away. I cannot continue like this.”
The statement sent shockwaves through the fanbase. Managers rarely suggest their own position could be compromised over squad decisions, especially in public. Nancy’s words revealed not only frustration with the result, but also deeper concerns about mentality, consistency and accountability within the team.
Arne Engels arrived with expectations of control and authority in midfield, but in the final he struggled to impose himself as Celtic were overrun during crucial spells. Liam Scales, meanwhile, found himself under relentless pressure at the back, with defensive lapses contributing to the sense of instability that ultimately cost Celtic the trophy.
Nancy was quick to stress that blame should not rest solely on two players.
“This is not a witch hunt,” he said. “But when mistakes repeat in big moments, fans lose belief. I cannot ask supporters to be patient when they feel the same pain every week.”
The honesty divided opinion almost instantly. Some supporters welcomed a manager finally voicing the frustration they have felt since the final whistle. Others worried that such public criticism could damage dressing room unity at a time when confidence is already fragile.
Still, Nancy insisted that silence was no longer an option.
“I am here to fix problems, not hide them,” he said. “If we want trophies, we must be brave.”
As Celtic now reflect on a lost Scottish League Cup final, the focus has shifted from the match itself to what comes next. Selection decisions, transfer plans and even managerial stability are now under intense scrutiny.
This was not just a defeat. It was a moment that exposed fault lines within the club. Whether Nancy’s explosive words become the catalyst for renewal or the beginning of deeper turmoil will define Celtic’s season from this point forward.
