WILFRIED NANCY faces a baptism of fire with three crucial games in three different competitions in eight days awaiting the new Celtic manager.
The Frenchman, who signed a two-and-a-half year during the week, will make his debut at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon when the champions host Hearts with the prospect of taking a three-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle.
Then Nancy will plunge into his first European tie when AS Roma arrive in the east end of Glasgow with vital Europa League points up for grabs.
Three days later, the 48-year-old former CF Montreal and Columbus Crew head coach will be introduced to Hampden when the holders meet St Mirren in the Premier Sports League Cup Final.
All eyes will be on the man who has taken over from popular interim gaffer Martin O’Neill who fearlessly stepped up to the front line to lead the team to seven victories in eight outings following Brendan Rodgers’ abrupt departure in late October.
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Wilfried Nancy proudly grips the Celtic shirt on his first visit to the club’s training HQ at Lennoxtown.
Summing up the situation, former Hoops goal hero Chris Sutton says: “He has to get through this first week – and I don’t envy him.
“There is every chance Celtic could drop points to Hearts, but it wouldn’t be on Nancy.
“It might be in the eyes of the fans, but that would be unfair. Roma is a different animal, but the League Cup Final is a massive one.
“St Mirren have been awkward for Celtic at times, but it’s not one Nancy can afford to lose.
“He’ll need to forget any ideas of playing fancy football right now. Ask Celtic fans if they’d take three scrappy 1-0 wins over the next seven days.
“Because it goes back to O’Neill’s main words of advice – just win.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Nancy will be his own man, he’ll have his own ideas about how he’ll want to play.
“This move has been a month in the making, so he’ll also have had the chance to analyse everything about the squad, what it can and can’t do.
“But there’s still nothing that can prepare you for life in Glasgow. I thought I had a good knowledge of British football when I arrived in this city.
“Yet I couldn’t believe just how crazy it was.
“That’s what is awaiting Nancy, but there’s no better way to get a feel for his new surroundings than to talk to the man who’s been in there for the last five or six weeks.
“And, knowing Martin, there won’t have been any sugar-coating, either.
“You don’t need to have been a fly on the wall to guess what the outgoing boss told the incoming one – win no matter what.
“That’s been O’Neill’s mantra throughout and it’s the one thing Nancy will need to do, as well.”
WELCOME TO CELTIC…former CF Montreal colleagues Wilfried Nancy and Alistair Johnston embrace on the new manager’s first day.
The one-time England international striker added: “It’s not going to be easy. In fact, in some ways it’s an impossible task.
“This is a Celtic squad that was already lacking after the summer, but it’s now being stretched to the limit. Martin had to rely on a core group to get the job done, but it’s already taking its toll.
“He discovered who he could and couldn’t trust and it will be over to the new man to do the same.
“I was delighted O’Neill got the send-off he deserved and walked away with his standing among supporters actually enhanced,
“But in some way he has actually inadvertently cranked up the pressure on his successor by being so successful.
“Nancy is stepping in ahead of a huge week and a brutal run of fixtures. He’s got seven games until the big derby at New Year – and it’s going to be about just getting by.
“He’s not going to be a coach in this first month in the job – he needs to be a manager.
“There’s not going to be a week on the training ground until into January so there is no way he can implement all his own ideas.
“It’ll have to be a gradual process. And it might not be straight forward.”
Nancy will take his first steps on what is certain to be an eventful journey at 3pm tomorrow when his first game gets underway.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! ORDER NOW AND GET £5 OFF! Celtic Confidential is the stunning new book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. Please order early for guaranteed Christmas delivery. All is revealed in a sensational new publication. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Happy Festive reading everyone!
