Martin O’Neill responds to Wilfried Nancy’s start at Celtic, and fans wanting him back

Martin O’Neill responds to Wilfried Nancy’s start at Celtic, and fans wanting him back

It has all flipped on its head within a week at Celtic, and all for the wrong reasons.

It wasn’t so long ago that Martin O’Neill had seemingly turned the tide at Celtic, and the dark clouds were being removed from above Parkhead.

But fast forward to the present, and Wilfried Nancy has lost his first three Celtic games, including the League Cup final to St Mirren on Sunday at Hampden.

So, what does the man, who Nancy replaced, think about it all? O’Neill was classy, as usual, in his response to Nancy’s current troubles.

You have got to give managers chances,” said O’Neill. “You have to give them a chance. I think back to my own time at Leicester City, where I eventually enjoyed really nice success.

“Coming into a situation now, you just have to win. You have to win. Steady it again now, if it’s gone afloat a bit or whatever the case may be. You just go in and win a game or two.

“There are some excellent players at the football club. There are some boys who have won big times. The captain is a terrific example there. Really, really good. Was brilliant for me and to me. Sometimes, just lean on the senior players. Just lean on them and get them on your side.

O’Neill on Celtic fans wanting him back

In the build-up to Nancy being appointed, and all the paperwork being sorted, there was debate as to whether O’Neill should stay on.

Jim White: “So what’s your message to all the Celtic fans, and I mean many, many, who are messaging in this morning. Who are saying it’s a polite, ‘no thanks to Wilfried Nancy and Martin, we want you back?’

O’Neill: “You can’t make a judgment on anybody over three games.

“I don’t care about the matches. The matches were difficult. Roma was going to be a difficult game, whether you are playing at home or not. Hearts was a top-of-the-table clash. A cup final. A cup final is a cup final. You have to give a manager some time.”

Martin O’Neill has spoken out about Wilfried Nancy’s challenging start at Celtic, urging fans to give the new manager time. O’Neill, who had a successful interim spell at the club, believes Nancy should be allowed to settle into the role without being judged too harshly ¹.

“You can’t make a judgment on anybody over three games. I don’t care about the matches. The matches were difficult,” O’Neill said, highlighting the tough fixtures Nancy has faced, including the League Cup final loss to St Mirren and a Europa League tie against Roma.

O’Neill also emphasized the importance of leaning on experienced players like captain Callum McGregor, saying, “Sometimes, just lean on the senior players. Just lean on them and get them on your side.” He believes Celtic has excellent players who can help Nancy turn things around ¹.

Regarding his own potential return to the club, O’Neill has left the door open, stating, “I genuinely don’t know. If they asked me, would I be a director of football? I know from the past that’s the best role in football now because you can blame the manager for the bad results!” ².

Nancy has spoken highly of O’Neill, praising his humility and authenticity. The new manager has also acknowledged the challenges he faces, saying, “I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey”