Roma learned a lesson after their first loss to Hearts. They were beaten in the League Cup final by St Mirren and then eliminated by Dundee United.
Seven consecutive wins against Aberdeen and Livingston suggested budding hope for Wilfrid Nancy and Celtic.
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But Motherwell stomped those men on their turf at Fir Park on Tuesday, with the reigning Scottish champions producing one of their worst performances of the Frenchman’s brief and chaotic tenure.
A fifth defeat in their opening seven games – one in which he kept a clean sheet – put Nancy under pressure again.
After suffering their 17th defeat of 2025, the Championship side go into the second Old Firm derby of the season at Celtic Park on Saturday knowing that Rangers are just one win away from leveling points on points despite a dismal start to the season.
It would have been an unthinkable prospect just a few months ago, but during the Celtics’ disastrous fall, the fall felt like a lifetime ago.
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Now, Nancy definitely needs a win — and a convincing one at that — to start the new year off on the right foot.
‘Celtic want to play like Motherwell’
Although the sample size is small, Nancy must have arrived at Fir Park with the biggest strides she has taken as Celtic head coach to date.
Livingston silenced early calls for his exit after a ridiculous performance in Saturday’s win over Aberdeen with three points.
Before the game, Nancy stressed that he had been “seeing improvement.”
Having been coached by the great Motherwell, under the skilful tutelage of Jens Bertel Ascu, Celtic’s players will raise their eyebrows and shake their heads at such a statement.
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The Motherwell head coach predicted via Sportsound before the game that it would be “a fantastic game of football, energetic, intense and at times fast-paced”.
Only the home team lived up to expectations, beating the visitors in every aspect.
“Celtic want to play like Motherwell,” former Rangers defender Alan Hutton told Premier League Sport after the Lanarkshire side’s 35th win over Celtic.
“Celtic are second best, chasing shadows, educated. On and off the park,” agreed former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart.
[BBC]
“Progress, improvement,” Nancy told the media after the game. “But tonight, again, we faced difficulties, we faced difficulties.
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“That’s the reality. I don’t accept that, I’m not saying I accept that. I’m saying it’s the truth.”
The Celtic boss himself admitted that his side were unable to cope with Motherwell. Motherwell were beaten, albeit narrowly, at Rangers on Saturday.
While football is far from that simple, the broader point is that Danny Rohr’s side will head to the East End with gusto. After all, Fir Park’s blueprint for success isn’t rocket science.
They chased Celtic and didn’t allow the champions to create any chance until late in the second half, when they already had a two-goal cushion.
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“Motherwell know what they are doing and they are happy with it,” Stewart added. “Celtic are a very uncomfortable team.”
What are the fans saying?
Dave: Nancy has to get out before things become irreversible!
stop: After every defeat, Nancy would come up with what absolute nonsense about performance, position, and players moving forward. Is the board really listening to this nonsense?
Luke: As someone who wanted Nancy to work, tonight was really disappointing. I sincerely believe it would be great if he had the players he has, and the mistakes the team makes have less to do with the system and more to do with the quality of the players and the coaching. That said, tonight was a chance to show that he has the flexibility to make changes when things don’t go his way and the wisdom to know what to change. I bet he failed on both counts.
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Patrick: I would be surprised if Nancy keeps his job after this and he can take Kasper Schmeichel with him after a bad season. The board cannot allow this to continue, they absolutely cannot. It’s not good enough to play like this against an already underperforming team.
Benny: This manager and his playground tactics have to stop now. It’s like watching the kids in the park all charge forward while leaving the worst players behind to defend. Nancy knows nothing and along with Brendan Rodgers and the board destroy this Celtic team and send the league to Rangers or Hearts.
eve: As someone who has already owned Celtic season tickets, isn’t this the John Barnes era? The coach thinks he can play any player in any system (not 4-2-2-2?) and doesn’t seem to realize that opposing coaches only play that way. Could Martin O’Neill return?
