“I was close when I was a player to sign with Carlisle,” Wilfried Nancy

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·19 December 2025

“I was close when I was a player to sign with Carlisle,” Wilfried Nancy

Wilfried Nancy has rejected suggestions that he lacks an understanding of the Scottish game, even as Celtic’s difficult run continued with a fourth successive defeat on Wednesday night at Tannadice…

Wilfried Nancy, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Tannadice, 17 December 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The Frenchman raised eyebrows during his post-match media appearance on Wednesday night when he cited a near-move to Carlisle United as evidence of his familiarity with Scottish football.

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Celtic surrendered a first half lead against Jim Goodwin’s side allowing Dundee United to overturn the deficit and secure a 2-1 victory.

The setback marked Nancy’s fourth disastrous defeat since taking charge, following domestic defeats to Hearts and St Mirren as well as Roma in the Europa League in the two weeks since he replaced Martin O’Neill.

Martin O’Neill at Easter Road

Criticism has mounted over the 48 year-old’s tactical adjustments, with some questioning whether his methods are ill-suited to Scottish football after departures from the more settled approaches seen under O’Neill and Brendan Rodgers.

It was against that backdrop that Nancy’s reference to Carlisle – a club based south of the border – left some observers puzzled as he sought to defend his grasp of the Scottish game.

When questioned whether he underestimated Scottish football, Nancy said via The National: “No, I know Scottish football. I know the way it is. I come from France. I come from Europe. I was close when I was a player to sign with Carlisle.”

“So, I know exactly where I am. I know that Scottish football, this is physical. I know that there is a lot of intensity. I know that there is a lot of fight. And the referees don’t whistle a lot. I know that.”

Wilfried Nancy, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Tannadice, 17 December 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“I think that, again, today, since I came here, this is not like we went off the record. But, again, in terms of results, because I’m judged on that, you are talking like this, and I take it. But at the end of the day, I think that we, again, I’m going to repeat myself, we are improving.”

“But, tonight, it’s a perfect situation regarding what we should have done or could have done to win this game. But we have to do better in this situation.”

Conor Spence

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