Pressure mounts on FC Utrecht boss ahead of Celtic Park visit

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The Celtic Star

·27 de enero de 2026

Pressure mounts on FC Utrecht boss ahead of Celtic Park visit

Pressure continues to mount on FC Utrecht Head Coach Ron Jans, yet the veteran manager has ruled out stepping aside as his team head into Thursday’s Europa League outing at Celtic Park…

Ron Jans, Head Coach of FC Utrecht looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between SC Freiburg and FC Utrecht at Stadion am Wolfswinkel on October 23, 2025 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)

The Dutch club’s dismal run of results has now reached five consecutive losses, leaving confidence low within the squad. Meanwhile, Celtic are aware that securing three points against Utrecht would be enough to confirm their place in the next phase of the Europa League.

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Utrecht’s recent struggles span multiple competitions, with setbacks in domestic league action, cup ties and European fixtures, the latter already ending their continental campaign.

Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat to Sparta Rotterdam compounded the situation by dragging the club into the bottom half of the Eredivisie table. Despite growing unrest among supporters, Jans made it clear after the match that he remains committed to the role and has no plans to step down.

Ron Jans, Head Coach of FC Utrecht reacts prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between FC Utrecht and Olympique Lyonnais at Stadion Galgenwaard on September 25, 2025 in Utrecht, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Speaking via Daily Record, Jans said: “That was definitely a thank you for their support, not a farewell.

“I think they support us a lot. This time it was ‘shame on you’ and ‘Ron Jans, don’t come back’—if I heard correctly. I don’t plan on doing that, actually. I’m having a great time here, though I’m currently going through a very difficult phase, for which I’m obviously partly responsible.

“There are others who could make that decision, but I have absolutely no reason to. It’s about results. That’s not up to me. No, I’m not afraid of that. If I thought that I was one of the causes, then you have to draw your own conclusions. But I’m not at that point at all.”

Vasilis Barkas of FC Utrecht during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between SC Freiburg and FC Utrecht at Stadion am Wolfswinkel on October 23, 2025 in Freiburg, Germany. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)

A return to Glasgow looms for Utrecht goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas on Thursday who endured a torrid time at Celtic following his £5 million move from AEK Athens in the summer of 2020.

Conor Spence

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