Wilfried Nancy Faces Dressing-Room Shock as Reo Hatate Claims Celtic Boss Has ‘Losers’ Mentality’ After Three Straight Defeats

Wilfried Nancy’s turbulent start as Celtic manager has taken a dramatic new turn after midfielder Reo Hatate was reported to have questioned the mindset being set by the new head coach, claiming the club is drifting towards what he described as a “losers’ mentality” following three consecutive defeats, including a damaging final loss.

The comments, which have sent shockwaves through Celtic Park, come at a moment of growing tension around Nancy’s early reign. Appointed to usher in a fresh era built on structure, control and long-term sustainability, the French-Canadian coach has instead found himself under intense scrutiny after results failed to match expectation in the opening weeks.

Celtic’s third defeat in a row the most painful coming in a final that supporters viewed as an early measuring stick  appears to have pushed internal frustration into the open. Hatate, one of the club’s most influential performers in recent seasons, is said to have raised concerns about the language and mentality surrounding recent setbacks.

Speaking in the aftermath of the final, Hatate is understood to have taken issue with the emphasis placed on performance rather than outcome.

“At Celtic, losing three games in a row is not something you explain,” he said. “When you start talking like this, it feels like a losers’ mentality. This club is about winning, always.”

The remarks represent the clearest indication yet of unease within the dressing room. While players have largely backed Nancy publicly since his arrival, Hatate’s words underline how deeply ingrained the club’s winning culture remains  and how quickly patience can erode when results falter.

Nancy’s post-match comments after earlier defeats have been widely dissected. His insistence on judging progress through structure, balance and execution was intended to signal calm leadership, but critics argue such messaging risks softening standards at a club where success is measured almost exclusively in trophies.

Hatate’s frustration reflects that wider sentiment. Since arriving in Glasgow, the Japan international has become synonymous with Celtic’s high-tempo, aggressive identity, thriving under managers who demanded immediate intensity and clear results. For him, the recent run appears to have crossed an emotional line.

The final defeat proved pivotal. What might once have been framed as transitional growing pains instead hardened into a narrative of regression. Supporters leaving the stadium voiced familiar concerns  not only about tactics, but about whether the team still carried the ruthless edge that has defined Celtic at their best.

Internally, the club hierarchy have maintained a measured stance, aware of the scale of change underway and the challenges of implementing a new philosophy. However, sources acknowledge that losing a final so early into Nancy’s tenure has magnified pressure significantly.

Nancy himself has not publicly addressed Hatate’s reported comments, but he has reiterated that he understands the standards required at Celtic.

“I know this club,” he said recently. “Winning is not optional here. But my job is also to build something strong enough to keep winning, not just today but consistently.”

Yet history suggests Celtic managers are rarely afforded the luxury of time when results dip and dressing-room belief wavers. The combination of three straight defeats, a lost final, and now a public questioning of mentality from a senior player has created a volatile atmosphere.

Supporters remain divided. Some view Hatate’s stance as a necessary reminder of Celtic’s identity, while others fear internal dissent could deepen instability at a critical moment in the season.

What is clear is that Nancy’s early reign has entered a defining phase. The conversation is no longer just about tactics or transition, but about culture, mentality and whether his message truly aligns with what Celtic demands.

In Glasgow, results tend to answer questions faster than explanations. For Wilfried Nancy, the response to this storm on the pitch and within the squad may determine whether this early controversy becomes a footnote, or the moment his tenure began to unravel.