WILFRIED NANCY admitted Celtic were outmuscled by AS Roma as they toppled to an embarrassing 3-0 Europa League defeat at Parkhead last night.
It turned into a Men v Bhoys confrontation as the Serie A players constantly won the 50-50 duels with their opponents as they romped to a three-goal interval lead that proved to be unassailable.
Arne Engels blew the opportunity of throwing his team a lifeline when he thumped a penalty-kick against the post in first-half stoppage-time.
The hosts were in blunderland right from the start when Liam Scales deflected a right-wing corner-kick high past the blameless Kasper Schmeichel for the visitors’ opener.
The Republic of Ireland defender had a period to forget when he stood off his international team-mate Evan Ferguson twice in the penalty box and both occasions the on-loan Brighton frontman took advantage with unerring strikes.
Comeback forward Kelechi Iheanacho, played his first game after missing 10 with a hamstring injury, had a goal disallowed for offside in the 64th minute and Leon Bailey suffered an identical fate after the speedy winger, a temporary transfer from Aston Villa, netted shortly afterwards.
Nancy didn’t attempt to make excuses for his players continually being second best in challenges and said: “It was difficult and also we conceded an own goal from a corner after five minutes.
“They put a lot of intensity, but we didn’t cope with it. We wanted to escape the pressure and we didn’t play forward.
“In the first-half, we were too soft in certain moments and I think we have to be stronger and believe a little bit more.
“In certain moments, it’s not about being big or small. I just think that sometimes we have to use our body more.
“Our body position could have been better in certain moments. Sometimes, instead of being on the half-turn we also had our backs to goal. And we could have been better man-to-man individually and accept the pressure.
“But we didn’t do that at certain moments in the first-half.
“It was better in the second-half. We were able to get closer and escape with the pressure.
“We had a few actions that I like, the overlap and underlap to attack with our pace a little bit more.
“We missed the penalty. That could’ve changed the dynamic.”
Nancy continued to search for positives and, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I accept the challenge and embrace the challenge. I could’ve said: ‘No, I want to come in a bit later.’ The reality is the reality.
“I knew we had big games coming and it could be difficult. The belief I have in my players is really high. The way we work is really high.
“So, that’s why I’m really confident. We’re engaged and talk with each other. I believe in the next few days we’ll be able to do something good.
“Understand me well, I don’t talk about Martin O’Neill or Shaun Maloney. But many players played many minutes in a row.
“This is the situation. I don’t like to hide behind things, but I also like to have facts.
“We have a lot of injured players. This is the reality. I knew this before. I’m confident, I see good things. This is not enough, but we are moving forward.”
Now Nancy will have to regroup and prepare his troops for Sunday’s Premier Sports League Cup Final against St Mirren at Hampden.
The former Columbus Crew head coach added: “We will have a discussion and it’s about honesty and it’s about empathy.
“The commitment the players have, I can feel it and for me that’s the most important thing.
“I can feel the connection with the players. On this occasion, it was just not enough.
“I need to choose the right players in terms of freshness. “It will be a different game at the weekend and in the next few days I am going to analyse everything.”
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