Unbowed Celtic's manager shows no fear of dismissal yet the Parkhead faithful show wrath following derby defeat.
The Celtic boss declared he did not fear losing his job, claiming, “The team is very near to a turnaround,” in the wake of moving dangerously close to being fired with a convincing loss to Rangers.
A Second-Half Capitulation Sees Derby Loss
Celtic were in front their oldest rivals at the interval but a collapse after the break enabled Danny Röhl’s team to pull level on points with the current league title holders. The former MLS manager, who was hired from the MLS, has now overseen six setbacks in his last eight fixtures.
“We are together at the club,” insisted the manager.
Pressed on the speculation, the 48-year-old replied: “It’s not on my mind. I concentrate on discovering solutions to aid my players to excel on the fine details.
Fan Fury Outside Parkhead
The fans displayed their anger – aimed at the dugout and directors – by protesting at Parkhead. The board would be most likely to re-appoint the former boss, who enjoyed a successful interim spell before Nancy was hired, if Nancy departs.
“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. So this is the situation for the moment. But by saying this is the reality, that is not a sign that I am pessimistic. Not at all. My point is we are really close, really, really close to change the narrative.”
Nancy’s Persistent Belief
The coach remains focused on the fact his team can perform strongly for one half at a time. Indeed, were it not for missed chances they might have been greater than 1-0 up. “I saw enough except the fact that we missed a second goal,” he said. “I acknowledge that we lost, but it's important to stay balanced.
“The performance we had at stages was exceptionally high. That happened. I wouldn't speak so positively if it was not the case. But that’s why, when it comes to wins, I said it's a repeating pattern. For that reason I said that we are really close to a shift in fortunes. Currently: small things.”
“There were many, many good things that we did, once more. However is consistency. My narrative would not be if it was not the case. That’s why I am convinced we’re going to be able to get back on track.”
Röhl’s Cautious Response
The victorious boss refused to contemplate a championship push in spite of what appeared to be a landmark win. “One match at a time, then we can really build up something here,” he said. “The confidence in the squad is immense.”
