Alistair Johnston Delivers Honest Message to Wilfried Nancy as He Prepares for Celtic Return
Celtic defender Alistair Johnston says he is “thrilled” to reunite with Wilfried Nancy but warned his former Montreal boss that attractive football comes second to winning at Parkhead.
Nancy’s reign began with a setback as Premiership leaders Hearts claimed a 2–1 victory at Celtic Park. For Johnston, who worked under the French coach during his breakout spell at CF Montréal, the reunion is welcome — but he insists the expectations in Glasgow are on another level.
“I’m excited to have him here,” Johnston said. “But the biggest thing is that this isn’t MLS — you don’t get as much time. At a club like Celtic, he knows you want to bring your ideas, but you also need to win. Hopefully we’ll do a lot of winning and play some beautiful football because that’s what his system is about.”
Johnston admitted the managerial upheaval following Brendan Rodgers’ sudden resignation shocked the dressing room.
“That was a whirlwind,” he said. “I’d never been in a situation where a manager left like that, especially mid-season. Then Martin O’Neill came back — everyone knows what a legend he is. He did a great job for five weeks.”
The Canadian international joked that the reunion with Nancy means it’s time to brush up on old habits.
“Now I have to get my French back out of the closet,” he smiled. “I hope he’s been practising his Scottish — that’s a totally different language!”
Johnston also revealed he had been quietly tracking Nancy’s move to Scotland through contacts in Montreal.
“I’d heard a few rumblings, so I messaged people back home. Before I knew it, it actually happened.”
Johnston Eyes Strong Comeback After Hamstring Surgery
Speaking to Canadian TV, the 27-year-old admitted his season has been derailed by injuries. After several setbacks, he underwent hamstring surgery but says he is recovering well.
“I’m doing well. I had to get surgery, but I’m feeling much better now,” Johnston said. “Hopefully that clears up any re-injury worries. I’ll be ready to go for the second half of the season and hopefully have a strong lead-up to the World Cup.”
Canada face a challenging but exciting tournament on home soil.
“It’s not the best draw, not the worst,” he said. “Switzerland have top-level players, but we’ve shown we can defend well and go toe-to-toe with big teams. Playing in front of a home crowd will be unbelievable.”
Johnston added that a potential matchup with Italy in Toronto would be “the biggest event in Canadian sporting history,” though he joked he might not have survived the banter of a Scotland clash.
Leave a Reply