theRangers manager Danny Röhl has fired a veiled dig at Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy ahead of tomorrow’s Glasgow Derby meeting…
Celtic Manager Wilfried Nancy arriving at the ground ahead of the Scottish Premiership match between Livingston and Celtic at Set Fare Arena on December 27, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
The Scottish Champions host the Ibrox club in the first meeting of 2026 and the situation is precarious for Nancy, who has lost five games out of seven.
Speaking ahead of the game, the German appeared to criticise the decision by Nancy to make drastic, immediate changes upon coming into their respective clubs mid season.
🔊 LISTEN: “I looked to my players and what is best for them… it’s never about what is the perfect build for me”.
🔵 Rangers head coach Danny Röhl explains why he felt it was best to make gradual changes when he arrived at the club instead of ripping everything up ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yvOjdensY7
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) January 2, 2026
theRangers manager was playing some mind games today trying to up the pressure on Wilfried Nancy and his misfiring Celtic squad. As reported by Daily Record, Rohl said: “Yeah, I think they’re nervous, from what you hear so far. But I think it’s about us and how we start such a game.
“I totally believe that if we are right there, on the front foot and winning balls – we can hurt them. Then they will be even more nervous. But if they create good moments at the beginning, the crowd will be straight behind them. So it’s not just tactics, it’s the emotional and psychological things. That’s what we have to understand.
“I could say this game is just three points. But this game is never just about three points. There’s an emotional side. But it will be a big booster for us (if we win) and where we are at the moment.
Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, and Danny Rohl, Manager of Rangers talk after the Premier Sports Cup Semi Final match between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park on November 02, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“If we can’t win it? The season is still on. We’ve shown after losing to Hearts we can come back with results. But we need a long turn this season. If we do that, I see a big belief that there’s something for us.”
Röhl replaced Russell Martin after a disastrous start to the campaign. After benefiting from a number of referee errors, theRangers have quietly climbed the table and will now be looking to go level with Celtic on Sunday.
🗣️ “The Celtic players look directionless. The squad is in dire need of major surgery.”
Celtic fan Conor Spence from the Celtic Star reflects on the Motherwell defeat, Wilfried Nancy’s future and Saturday’s Old Firm – live on Sky Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/SRaCuTU1aS
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 31, 2025
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Sevco are getting every break imaginable…They should be 6 points at least worse off than they are…I just hope our players give 100% for 90 minutes…If we do…we’ll beat them…They are poor.
Actually pity Nancy tomorrow, with potentially having to face a gauntlet of abuse towards himself.
Can only see a convincing victory, which requires all of our players to be upon the same page, in wanting this victory?
Not convinced whatsoever, that’s the case at present, and the prospect of our support turning upon him, is at very high levels currently imo?
We have seen glimpses of our footballing ability under Nancy, is capable of destroying the Huns, if we can apply a finishing touch to our play?
But the setback at motherwell, where we were pathetic in every aspect of our play, hardly breeds confidence.
So don’t know what to expect from ourselves tomorrow whatsoever, but do know I wouldn’t like to be standing in Nancy shoes for it, that’s for sure.
It takes a good ear to hear what Nancy is saying in his interviews so how do the foreign players understand him.
I know there are interpreters for these players but come on, who can actually understand his so called tactics.
Its incredible that hes still there and its last chance saloon on Saturday against them