Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy spoke to the media this afternoon after his side’s 4-2 win over Livingston that narrowed the gap at the top of the table to just three points with a game in hand. Here’s everything that the Nancy said to the mainstream media…
Q: What are your thoughts on the game?
Wilfried Nancy: “Good, a good game. A difficult game to play, regarding the context, regarding the pitch, regarding the opposition. I really like the competitive spirit that we had. We came back twice from behind. After that, we were able to score four goals. We could have scored more goals, obviously. But I really like what we did in the first half. Second half, I liked it also. But in different ways because defensively, we were strong. We didn’t concede but offensively, I think that we could have done better with the ball. To be able to establish in their half and to recognise to attack. Sometimes I think that we rushed. What happened, it was a chaotic game. They had the ball, they played the long ball. It was not easy to escape, also, the man-to-man. But I’m pleased with the competitive spirit that we had. And also the game that we had.”
Q: How important is it that you take that chaos out of these games?
Wilfried Nancy: “Yes, it’s been only two weeks that we are together. But I think that step by step, they understand what I want and they do it on the pitch and they enjoy it. So now this is more about, like I said before. Do we play fast to attack the box? Or do we keep the ball to be able to rest with the ball? This is all the kind of nuance that I think we could be better. How can we get closer together? How we can play the diagonal pass when this is the moment? How we can get more relation between the players? I think that this is something that we did well at certain moments. But I think that this is something that we can do better for the future.”
Q: When you go one goal down and 2-1 down, when it’s so early, do you still have confidence in the players to turn it around?
Wilfried Nancy: “Yes, that’s why they did it. Again, this is the game. This is football. Sometimes they are really ready for this game. And it happens that we conceded a goal like this. I think that the two goals that we conceded could have done better. But after the two goals that we conceded, we were better defensively at stopping the cross and also to defend the back post on the cross. So that’s why I like the reaction. Because this is not easy to come back from behind, playing away in the context like this.”
Q: And in the attacking sense, are you starting to get more of what you like?
Wilfried Nancy: “Yes, step by step. Since day one. I think that when we played Hearts, we had a really good actions. We didn’t score, but we had really good actions. But step by step, I can see what I want to see with my players in terms of the way to attack, how to attack and when to attack. And the spirit defensively, tactically. Sometimes it’s not about tactics, it’s about fight. This is something that I like to see.”
Q: With his two goals today, Benjamin Nygren is now the club’s top scorer this season. How impressed have you been with him since you arrived?
Wilfried Nancy: “When I was in Columbus, I wanted to have him. So I know him really well. I know what he can do. I think that he has a big potential. He hasn’t reached yet his potential. But I think that in terms of relation, connection with players. This is a player of relation. So he likes to… This is not a dribbler. His ability is to make the run for his teammates but also the technique that he has. So now he knows that he has to be stronger. He has to believe a little bit more in himself. But I like what I’ve seen so far. But I will challenge him.
Q: Did you try to sign him when you were at Columbus?
“Yeah.”
Q: Wilfried, that was an unchanged 11 from the Aberdeen team except the goalkeeper situation. Do you think you’ve found your preferred starting 11 now?
Wilfried Nancy: “No, because every game is different. And the way I am as a coach is… Again, it’s too early to talk like this. My sub players are not subs, they are solutions. So the idea is also to see, depending on the team that we’re going to face, depending on how the game was difficult or not. So after that, step by step, I know a little bit more of the players. So I am able to connect and to put more relation between players. But we’ll see for the next game.”
Q: How is Kasper Schmeichel?
Wilfried Nancy: “Kasper is going to be good for next week.
Q: Did you speak to the players about the gap at the top? It’s now three points. You’re obviously having a game on Tuesday.
Wilfried Nancy: “I don’t talk about this with my players. My job is to analyse and to see what we need to improve. What we need to do well. And the players, among themselves, they talk about it. So I don’t have to add something.”
Q: Do you feel you need a striker, Wilfried, in January?
Wilfried Nancy: “You are a striker?”
Q: I’ll play if you want!
Wilfried Nancy: “Listen, like I said, you’re going to ask me this question again in the future. I will answer the same. When we have a window, the window is an opportunity for each team to improve the team. So we’ll see what we’re going to do, if we’re going to take players, what type of player we’re going to take and so on. But step by step, you’re going to get the answer.”
🍀 “Tough game”
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy previews the trip to Livingston and explains why Kasper Schmeichel misses out ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/IrSN63AjBd
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 27, 2025
🍀 Best Celtic goal so far
🗣️ “We’ve just got to focus on ourselves”Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren react to the victory in West Lothian and cutting the gap at the top ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/gj1MVuICa7
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 27, 2025
Celtic in the Thirties – Both Volumes Half in the Celtic Star Books Boxing Day Sale…
Both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…
