This was a nightmare outcome for Celtic — and for Wilfried Nancy.
Things could hardly have started worse for the new manager, who has now lost his opening three matches in charge against Hearts, AS Roma and, most painfully, St Mirren in the League Cup final. Celtic’s 3–1 defeat at Hampden was deserved, and the result has only intensified the pressure on Nancy at a very early stage of his tenure.
It’s not just the defeats themselves that are alarming, but the manner in which they are happening — a point Chris Sutton highlighted in his reaction after the final.
Chris Sutton reacts to Celtic’s League Cup final defeat
Even before Nancy officially took charge, debate raged over whether Celtic should alter their system, particularly given how settled things appeared under Martin O’Neill and the demands of a packed fixture schedule.
In his post-match comments on social media, Sutton suggested that Nancy may have misjudged the current level of the squad, questioning whether the players are capable of executing the style the new boss is trying to introduce.
“I feel for Wilfried Nancy,” Sutton admitted. “He’s clearly trying to implement his ideas, but it hasn’t looked this bad for a long time. You start to wonder what comes next for him and whether his position will come under serious threat.”
Sutton argued that while Nancy is now firmly under the spotlight, the issues at Celtic run deeper than the man in the dugout. Still, losing his first three games — including a cup final — has inevitably put the Frenchman front and centre of the criticism.
“There are bigger problems at the club than Nancy,” Sutton added. “But the reality is he’s taken charge and lost three matches straight away. That’s a difficult situation for any manager.”
The former striker also suggested that decisive action from the board could help reduce the noise surrounding the manager, allowing the club to regain some stability.
Sutton’s core concern, however, was tactical. He believes Nancy has overestimated what this group of players can deliver.
“To play the way he wants requires tactical intelligence, flexibility and sharp decision-making,” Sutton said. “Right now, this squad doesn’t have enough of those qualities.”
What next for Wilfried Nancy?
History offers some perspective. Gordon Strachan conceded five goals in his first Celtic match, while Ange Postecoglou also endured a difficult opening spell before turning things around.
Whether Nancy can follow a similar path remains to be seen. What is clear is that the coming days will be crucial — not just for the manager, but for Celtic as a whole.
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