NANCY AND THE LOST BHOYS: McGREGOR OPENS UP

CALLUM McGREGOR has opened up on Wilfried Nancy’s catastrophic 33 days in charge of Celtic.

The Frenchman was appointed on December 3, the same day as Martin O’Neill guided the champions to a 1-0 win over Dundee for his seventh victory in eight games.

The 73-year-old charismatic Irishman completed his interm period as Hoops gaffer in style before Columbus Crew head coach Nancy was unveiled with three of his backroom staff.

It was a disastrous decision by the Parkhead powerbrokers as the Frenchman ill advisably attempted to impose a new formation on the players and lost his first four outings – including the Premier Sports League Cup Final.

The nosedive stalled with successes over Aberdeen (3-1) and Livingston (4-2), but following back-to-back losses against Motherwell and Danny Rohl’s Ibrox outfit it was all over for the blundering boss.

TOUCHLINE TALK-IN…Callum McGregor and Wilfried Nancy hold an impromptu chat. 

O’Neill answered an SOS for the second time in a turbulent campaign and is now preparing the squad for tomorrow afternoon’s vitally important crunch confrontation against leaders Hearts at Tynecastle.

The veteran team chief takes the Hoops to Edinburgh only three days after his 10 men battled to a 2-2 Europa League draw with Bologna in Italy following league victories over Dundee United (4-0) and Falkirk (1-0) and a 2-0 Scottish Cup win over Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park.

In quickfire fashion, O’Neill has steadied the rocking ship and eased it through troubled waters.

But Nancy could yet cost Celtic the opportunity of their fifth successive title after his wayward interruption to the team’s progress.

Asked why the former MLS Coach of the Year bombed in Glasgow, McGregor answered: “I think too much, too soon, in terms of change.

“You go from a team that’s super aggressive and on the front foot for 10-plus years, the whole time I’ve been here pretty much.

“Playing a certain way and being asked to do things in a certain way, defending a certain way, and then you bring in the nuance of knowing the league, playing in Scotland.

FRENCH FARCE…Wilfried Nancy can’t bear to look as Celtic head for another defeat.

“My belief is you get as much pressure on the ball, press as high as you can and that eliminates a lot of the defending that you have to do in terms of box defending.

“For me, it was just a little bit too much, too soon, in terms of that change. It was quite a big change from where the team had been.

“Not to say that it can’t work, but I think everyone is well aware of the timing, no pre-season and so many games.”

McGregor, speaking to Sky Sports, continued: “It was really a tough situation coming in and having a game every three days. You’re almost learning in the game. We all know it’s probably the harshest environment you can learn in.

“And like anything as human beings, when you take away that confidence then players and everybody starts to struggle with that. You need to have belief in yourself.

“Ultimately, when you’re losing games that does waver. We’re human beings, it does affect you.

“It’s really unfortunate that it didn’t work out, but I think we need to draw a line under it now.

“There’ have been so many negative stories going about this season, but there is so much positive to look forward and play for. The players have drawn a line under it.”

HAUL OF SHAME…Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous Celtic record. Graphic courtesy Scottish Sun.

McGregor, though, praised his team-mates for never quitting or giving up hopes of turning things around.

The influential captain added: “The results are everything. When you don’t win games, you question everything.

“Everyone wants to perform and play well, but if you don’t win games, you won’t get time.

“It’s the opposite at Celtic. You have to win and then you can worry about the performance after that.

“What I will say is the one thing that struck me about the whole thing was how much the players stuck together.

“That was comfort for me – being in that dressing room and knowing what was around me.

“People really got around each other in tough times and worked ever so hard to try to fix the results and situation we were in.

“The one thing to come out of it at my end was how together we are as players and how desperate we are to do well for Celtic.

“Everybody is desperate to win and we are all together.

“It would have been easy to start finger-pointing and blaming everyone else, but I saw a group that’s together.

“Coaches and managers will change, but the group of players will help us be successful.

“It was positive to see how together everyone is.”

🍀 “Too much too soon in terms of change…”

An 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 with Callum McGregor as he discusses Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic tenure and why this season can still be a success. Watch Hearts vs Celtic, 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, on Sunday from 2.30pm 📺 pic.twitter.com/fOv6r0rKKx

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