It is very easy to root for Wilfried Nancy. A likable, passionate individual whose career has taken him from unheralded player to the forefront of a club the size of Celtic should be worthy of high praise. It also feels only two games into the Frenchman’s tenure in Glasgow that he requires all the support he can get.
Nancy will receive that backing from the stands. Whatever legitimate grievances Celtic’s fanbase has about the direction of their club and circumstance by which Nancy was coaxed from Columbus Crew, they are generally wise enough to give the man a chance. Which is not to say there were no howls of outcry when Nancy’s name was initially floated as a potential successor to Brendan Rodgers.
Nancy stood alone with his thoughts for much of Celtic’s humbling at the hands of Roma. He will encounter an even bigger gap between dugout and touchline at Hampden Park on Sunday as Celtic hope to navigate choppy waters by lifting the League Cup. A game that could ordinarily be shrugged off as a competitive non-event – Celtic’s resource dwarfs that of St Mirren – suddenly carries huge significance. Nancy is the first manager in Celtic history to lose his opening two matches. If the run stretches to three, the alarm bells will be heard in Ohio and beyond.
It is preposterous that the League Cup offers Celtic a form of salvation. A year ago they were in the midst of a five-match unbeaten run in the Champions League and irritated by a scoreless draw at Dinamo Zagreb. Watching Roma – a strong side, it must be recognised – take a steamroller to Celtic on Thursday evening was the latest indicator of how a squad and environment have regressed. Celtic Park, where sparks usually fly on European nights, was depressingly flat.
This will be no easy fix. Nancy took over a Celtic squad that has glaringly dropped in quality in the course of 12 months. On paper, the Frenchman inherited a group of players rejuvenated by Martin O’Neill’s run of seven wins in eight games. Scrape further and you will see the struggle to beat St Mirren, the holding on against Hibernian and the grim 1-0 against hapless Dundee. Celtic were terrific in defeat of Feyenoord in Rotterdam yet underwhelming when edging past the 10 men of Rangers in the League Cup semi-final. O’Neill’s mere presence and conviviality lifted pressure on custodians who hardly appear keen for external scrutiny.
Still, had the much-maligned Celtic board kept O’Neill in office, they would have been accused of procrastination. There is also every chance Celtic’s results would have suffered a drop off in the very games Nancy inherited. The 48-year-old needed this matter of weeks to prepare for a critical transfer window. He has undoubtedly made mistakes; indeed, at times against Hearts and Roma it was tricky to decipher what on earth Celtic were trying to do. Nancy is, however, worthy of patience and some personnel of his own choice. He refuses to make excuses but points out, fairly, how difficult it will be to pass on his coaching messages during an intense run of fixtures. O’Neill, as a temporary fix, had no reason to care about the longer term when making selections.
Celtic have gone too far in their approach to signing players, where the pursuit of rough diamonds trumps tried-and-tested quality. It should be no shock that they apply a similar policy in the pursuit of a manager. The obvious hope is that Nancy can replicate the work of Ange Postecoglou, who oversaw Celtic rejuvenation. Sceptics already fear he may drown in Glasgow, in a manner sampled by John Barnes, Paul Le Guen and Pedro Caixinha. Records depict Ronny Deila as a reasonably successful Celtic manager when the Norwegian was anything but. Left-field choices carry huge danger in this city. There is no journey comparative to Nancy’s which serves as evidence he can succeed at Celtic. He must prove the exception to a rule. Whether Nancy’s messages can land, and he is convinced they can, is fundamental.
St Mirren are unfavourable opponents in this final. A belligerent team under a belligerent manager in Stephen Robinson is not at all what Nancy would like to see. Celtic have struggled all season to breach the low defensive line St Mirren will deploy. The Paisley team have physicality and attacking threat. They must also have viewed Nancy’s early struggles with a rising confidence. Pressure, and no shortage of it, sits on Celtic’s shoulders.
Should Celtic lift this trophy they can breathe. Three days later, they face a tricky trip to Dundee United. Aberdeen, Livingston and Motherwell all await before Rangers visit the east end of Glasgow. Nancy will either be empowered by that derby or be a man in deep trouble. Right now, it is impossible to call which option is the more likely.
