Nancy accepts ‘challenge’ of games coming thick and fast at Celtic

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The Celtic Star

·13. Dezember 2025

Nancy accepts ‘challenge’ of games coming thick and fast at Celtic

Wilfried Nancy accepts the ‘challenge’ of games coming thick and fast following Celtic’s troubling 3-0 defeat to Roma on Thursday night coming after his debut 2-1 defeat against Hearts at Celtic Park…

The Frenchman suffered his second loss in as many matches as the Italian side tore through Celtic with a ruthless first-half display before easing off after the interval.

Brighton loanee Evan Ferguson scored an impressive brace, following Liam Scales’ sixth-minute own goal that left the Hoops trailing 3–0 at the break.

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Evan Ferguson of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Celtic FC and AS Roma at Celtic Park on December 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Arne Engels earned a spot-kick on the stroke of half-time only to crash his effort off the post, and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho saw his finish in the chalked off for offside during a second half in which Celtic steadied themselves as Roma took their foot off the gas.

Now, St Mirren await Nancy’s side ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports League Cup final at Hampden Park, which is already looking like a must-win for the Celtic manager.

🍀 "I stay positive and I see only the good things regarding the game and what we're going to do..." Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy is feeling confident about Sunday's League Cup final against St Mirren despite losing his first two games in charge ⤵️
– Freitag, 12. Dezember 2025

Speaking post-match on how challenging this hectic schedule will be for himself and the players, he said via Celtic’s YouTube channel: “Again, I accept the challenge. I’m ready for the challenge. I knew that before. I could have said no, I want to come a little bit later. I don’t know. But the reality is the reality. I knew that we had a big game coming. I also knew that it could be difficult.”

Wilfried Nancy, Head Coach of Celtic, speaks with the fourth official during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Celtic FC and AS Roma at Celtic Park on December 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“So again, the belief that I have for my players is really high. The way we work, even though we didn’t work a lot, is really high. So that’s why I’m really confident. Because they are engaged. We talk to each other. And I believe that in the next few days, we’re going to be able to do something good. Because I feel and I see good things.”

Nancy added: “But this is a big challenge. Because obviously, we don’t train. This is all about rest. Many players, and again I understand you well, I don’t talk about the previous, about Martin or Shaun, did what they had to do. But what I mean is, many players played many games in a row. Many minutes in a row. This is the situation. I would have done the same thing too. But this is the situation.”

Wilfried Nancy, Manager of Celtic, looks on during a Celtic FC Training Session at Lennoxtown Training Centre on December 10, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“And again, I don’t like to hide behind things. But I like also to have facts. We have a lot of injured players. This is the reality. And this is after. And I knew this before. Understand me well. I knew that before. But I’m confident. And I see good things. It’s not enough. But we are going, we are moving forward.”

Conor Spence

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