Football Dec 07, 2025

Wilfried Nancy: New Celtic boss tells players to 'believe in themselves' as he prepares for first game and transfer window

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Wilfried Nancy: New Celtic boss tells players to 'believe in themselves' as he prepares for first game and transfer window

New Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy believes he has inherited a "quality team" that should "believe a little bit more in themselves".

The Frenchman takes charge for the first time on Sunday against Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, live on SportNews.

He has the chance to take the Hoops top of the table after replacing interim manager Martin O'Neill, who led them to four straight league wins.

Victory would take Celtic three points clear with a game in hand before their attention turns to a Europa League home game against Roma on Thursday.

"Quality team, quality players, but they have to believe a little bit more in themselves," the 48-year-old said.

"After that, tactical flexibility. We have players who can play in different positions and for me this is important to have players who are able to play in two positions minimum.

"I want my players to be confident but I want them also to be humble.

"My job also is to challenge them for the best of the team.

"We play against a style of play, we don't play against the name of the team. Roma, the way they play is not the same as Hearts. We know what we have in front of us. We know what we want to do."

The 48-year-old does not have to wait long for his first chance to win silverware, with the League Cup final against St Mirren at Hampden Park on December 14.

He was also quizzed on what he expects from the January transfer window and he suggested there was a "profile that we need".

"Each organisation, the idea is to improve," he added.

"I'm going to have to assess the team. I know them as a team because I've watched many games. Now it's about knowing them as a person. After that we'll see what is the best for the team.

"I like to take my time. I know that I don't have a lot of time.

"It's not a secret I want to play in a certain way. Proactivity, try to put [pressure] on the opposition, try to attack the ball as soon as possible and after that also be disgusting to play against when we defend - because we're going to have moments when we've got to suffer."

Tags:

football news id:13479700

Share this article

Related Posts

Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Portsmouth: Hayden Carter nets in stoppage-time to deny Pompey

Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Portsmouth: Hayden Carter nets in stoppage-time to deny Pompey

Hayden Carter bagged a stoppage-time equaliser as Blackburn snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Portsmouth.Michael O'Neill's hosts...

Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal: Gunners survive FA Cup scare to make quarter-finals and keep quadruple hopes alive

Mansfield 1-2 Arsenal: Gunners survive FA Cup scare to make quarter-finals and keep quadruple hopes alive

Arsenal survived a major scare against League One Mansfield to progress through to the FA Cup quarter-finals and keep their hopes of a quadruple alive...

Wolves 1-3 Liverpool: Andy Robertson inspires FA Cup win as Reds avenge recent Molineux defeat

Wolves 1-3 Liverpool: Andy Robertson inspires FA Cup win as Reds avenge recent Molineux defeat

Liverpool bounced back from their recent defeat to Wolves with a 3-1 win at Molineux to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.Arne Slot's side...

Preston North End 1-3 Oxford United: Spurs loanee Will Lankshear scores as Matt Bloomfield's side move out of relegation zone

Preston North End 1-3 Oxford United: Spurs loanee Will Lankshear scores as Matt Bloomfield's side move out of relegation zone

Oxford made it back-to-back league wins for the first time this season as they shocked Preston with a 3-1 win at Deepdale to move out of the relegatio...

Ryan Gravenberch: Liverpool midfielder signs new long-term contract until 2032

Ryan Gravenberch: Liverpool midfielder signs new long-term contract until 2032

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has signed a new long-term contract at the club. Your Site News understands the new deal will run until 2032 aft...

Bristol City 0-2 Coventry City: Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Haji Wright score in Sky Blues win

Bristol City 0-2 Coventry City: Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Haji Wright score in Sky Blues win

First half goals from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Haji Wright strengthened Coventry's position at the top of the Sky Bet Championship as they won 2-0 in a...