Liam Scales on his difficulties playing role Nancy demanded

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·16 gennaio 2026

Liam Scales on his difficulties playing role Nancy demanded

Liam Scales has given an insight into just how difficult it was to play the role demanded by Celtic’s former manager Wilfried Nancy…

Wilfried Nancy. Premier Sports Cup Final. 14 December 2025. St Mirren v Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The rookie boss arrived at Celtic from MLS side Columbus Crew with a bizarre formation that clearly didn’t suit the Ireland International defender and most of his Celtic teammates.

OneFootball Video

Scales was a strong contender of being Celtic best performer up to the arrival of the hapless Frenchman whose reign at Celtic lasted just 33 days, eight games, six defeats and just two victories.

For Scales it certainly wasn’t easy trying to follow the new manager’s instructions to play left in a back three and to bomb forward at every opportunity. It sends a shiver down your spine even thinking about it.

“Personally for me, and this isn’t going to be the same for everyone, I felt that as I got tired in games, it was harder to bring quality in that final third because I hadn’t played that high up as much,” centre-back Scales said, in his media conference yesterday afternoon ahead of the Scottish Cup tie against Auchinleck Talbot early evening on Sunday.

Liam Scales of Celtic concedes an own goal, resulting in the first goal for AS Roma, 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)

“Especially when your legs are tired, because you’re doing more running, more covering in that back three, the fatigue can take away quality. For me, I felt like that is what happened with me.

“I felt good in the first half of the (Premier Sports) cup final but as the game developed I nearly ran out of steam. I think that was just out of not being used to playing in that position, and doing more running at high speed and covering more distance.

Liam Scales of Celtic during the Premier Sports Cup Final match between St Mirren and Celtic at Hampden Park on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Vagelis Georgariou, The Celtic Star)

“It’s not an excuse, it just takes time to get used to that, what’s being asked of you physically. I think that was for me the difference.”

Nancy’s time at Celtic was characterised by dreadful second half performances with the Roma game the only one when the second half was noticeably better than first, maybe because the Italian side already had the game won in a first half where according to Scales’ Irish teammate Evan Ferguson, Celtic players didn’t appear to know what they were doing.

Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill at post-match media conference. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Now that Martin O’Neill is back, playing a back four and asking his defenders to first and foremost to defend, Celtic have had two consecutive clean sheets – none under Nancy – and Liam Scales is back to being named Man of the Match. In both the 4-0 win over Dundee United at home to last weekend and at the Falkirk Stadium on Wednesday night Sandman named Scales as his Man of the Match – and as you will know by now, that’s definitive.

Watch the Celtic media conference with Liam Scales below…

All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…

These books now available at at HALF PRICE in our January sale – click on image to order…

Order from Celtic Star Books HERE!

Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?