When results unravel this quickly at Celtic, staying silent is never an option—not for the fans, and not inside the dressing room.
The team has suffered four straight defeats under new manager Wilfried Nancy, including a crushing cup final loss, ramping up the pressure on everyone. A lack of squad reinforcements over the past two transfer windows, combined with a dramatic shift in playing style, has turned an already chaotic season into a turbulent one. Fans are bracing themselves for what might come next.
Now, Anthony Ralston has given a rare insight into how the players are coping behind closed doors.
“It’s tough to take,” Ralston told RecordSport. “When you’re used to so much success, winning everything there is to win, going through a spell like this… there’s no hiding how difficult it is.”
The right-back didn’t shy away from acknowledging the emotional strain, stressing that players are not immune to pressure.
“That’s just complete honesty,” he said. “We’re not robots. We’re human beings. I care deeply about it, and so does everyone else.”
Ralston confirmed that the pain in the squad is real—but so is their belief in their ability to respond. “We’ve got players who’ve been hurt by the results,” he said. “But we also have experienced winners here who understand exactly what it takes to succeed.”
For him, the response has to be both immediate and collective.
“When you go through a spell like this, you take the hit and turn it into getting back to the success we need,” he explained. “The first thing is sticking together as a unit.” That sense of unity, he added, must translate from Lennoxtown to the pitch.
“It’s about using the limited training time to build understanding,” Ralston said. “Then, when it comes to the game, you give absolutely everything.”
Attention now turns to Sunday’s clash with Aberdeen at Celtic Park. Another defeat could push the club dangerously close to full-blown panic.
“Sunday gives us another chance,” Ralston said. “Every one of us has to leave it all out there, offensively and defensively. That’s where it starts.”
He also acknowledged the difficulties of a mid-season managerial change.
“Normally, you’d have a pre-season and more time to work on these things,” he said. “The gaffer’s only had days with us, and we’re playing every three days.”
Still, excuses are not part of his mindset.
“As a footballer, especially at Celtic, you have no choice but to adapt,” he said. “The boys are giving everything and fully backing it.”
At a club built on winning, words only go so far. But Ralston’s honesty gives a clear picture of a dressing room that fully understands the seriousness of this moment.
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