Wilfried Nancy remained upbeat about his begin to life as Celtic boss, suggesting that his new group are already embracing his tactical tweaks within the early phases of his tenure.
Nancy was introduced as Brendan Rodgers’ successor earlier this month and took cost of his first sport on Sunday, which led to a 2-1 league defeat at residence to Hearts.
Now, the previous Columbus Crew boss will take to the European stage, with Celtic welcoming Serie A giants Roma to Glasgow of their Europa League conflict this Thursday.
Though that is Celtic’s thirty third main European assembly with Italian groups, it’s their first ever towards Roma, who’re managed by Gian Piero Gasperini.
They’ve gained two of their final 16 towards Italian opponents (D4 L10), each towards Lazio within the 2019-20 Europa League, and Nancy shall be hoping so as to add to that tally right here.
The Celtic boss insisted there have been constructive indicators from their loss to Hearts, having registered an anticipated targets (xG) complete of 1.86 from 15 photographs to their opponents’ 0.5 from their eight makes an attempt, with Nancy significantly impressed by his group’s software in coaching.
“On the weekend, we had good moments with and with out the ball, however after that, we might have been higher,” Nancy advised reporters.
“However I’m happy, not with the end result however with how we performed, with the way in which every participant needed to attach. It was fascinating for our first sport.
“As a coach, my job is to search out options and after that it’s to prioritise. Clearly, I can’t present the whole lot since I’ve come right here, however the thought is to prioritise.
“I’m fairly happy with what I’ve seen thus far. The coaching session that we had this morning. This can be a session I’ve performed with my earlier groups.
“It was the primary time that I’ve performed it right here and the standard was spot on. For me, this can be a signal that my gamers are in a position to embrace what we need to do.”
All eyes on Roma within the #UEL#CelticASRoma | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/SOyRRwW92A
— Celtic Soccer Membership (@CelticFC) December 10, 2025
One other subject Nancy was eager to cowl was surrounding using his ways board throughout their defeat to Hearts, a end result that left them three factors adrift of the Scottish Premiership summit after 15 video games of their marketing campaign.
Nancy was pictured exhibiting his gamers his directions mid-game and the picture has been scrutinised on-line, one thing the Celtic boss was eager to disregard.
“Once I had the chance to develop into a coach, I used to be an assistant coach for seven years, so I labored with many coaches,” Nancy added.
“So I at all times advised myself that while you develop into a coach, reduce the whole lot. So that’s what I did.
“So, on Twitter, I reduce the whole lot, concerning my title, concerning the membership, concerning what individuals say, as a result of they’ve the correct to say one thing.
“That is a part of the job. That’s why we examine for that. And after that, I’m not right here to touch upon the whole lot.
“We are able to go to a restaurant collectively and possibly you’re going to say that you just just like the meals and I’m going to say, I don’t prefer it. You realize what I imply?
“So, on the finish of the day, that is a part of the job, and me, I management what I can management, to be good with my gamers, with my membership, with the people who I work with.
“And to maximise our likelihood to win video games by having efficiency.
“I’m going to decorate a method, possibly they’ll say that they don’t like the way in which I costume, so I don’t waste time on that.
“If I take advantage of it [the tactics board], it’s as a result of it’s good for me. Easy as that and I’m not saying that I’m going to make use of it on a regular basis.”
Celtic are twenty first within the 36-team Europa League standings with seven factors from their first 5 video games, and know a win towards Roma will increase their hopes of a play-off end.