Paulo Bernardo has acknowledged that the growing calls for Celtic to part company with Wilfried Nancy have not come as a shock…
The Portuguese midfielder says intense scrutiny is inevitable at a club of Celtic’s stature, where sustained defeat is rarely tolerated.
Speculation swept through Celtic circles on Thursday suggesting the Frenchman’s position was already under threat, claims that were later dismissed by club officials.
However, Bernardo insists that at big clubs, a run of poor results quickly fuels uncertainty, with managers often finding themselves under pressure.
Speaking via Daily Record, Bernardo said: “I think that’s the thing about the big clubs, if one coach at Barcelona doesn’t win four games, they probably have a speculation around them that the club are going to sack him in the next game. I don’t think it’s only about Scotland, but the big clubs.
“We all want the coach to succeed and we want to succeed as well. We are all as a team together and if we don’t win the games, this speculation begins to get some credibility. We need to take responsibility for that. It’s not all about the coach, it’s us as well.
“We need to stick together as a group. Everyone wants to do the best they can to try and help the team and the coach. We all want the coach to succeed here so we need to play our role as well.”
Pressure is mounting on Nancy after Celtic’s midweek 2-1 defeat at the hands of Dundee United at Tannadice, a result that deepened the sense of unrest despite the Hoops squandering several clear-cut opportunities before the break to go further ahead at half-time.
The manner of another second-half capitulation sparked an angry reaction from sections of the support, with audible frustration directed towards the manager following the full-time whistle, and Bernardo feels the growing negativity is further unsettling a squad already short on confidence.
The midfielder concedes that the uneasy atmosphere is beginning to seep into performances on the pitch, creating tension that opponents can exploit, and he warned that Aberdeen could benefit from that fragility when they travel to Celtic Park tomorrow afternoon.
He added: “We are in a difficult moment and the fans know, we know, the coach knows, everyone knows and the Aberdeen players know as well so they probably will play with that. But we are professional footballers and we need to be calm and play the football that we can.”
“We know that we are the best team in the championship, we just need to start again and prove it. We just need to score goals, try to score, make a play, create some chances and the crowd will be with us.’”
“We felt the support of the crowd in Dundee United. Half of the stadium was full of Celtic supporters. We know that they get our backs when we need it and when we deserve it.”
The Portuguese midfielder continued: ‘I thought we should have won the game comfortably, like three or four nil in the first half. The second half we started to listen a bit to the crowd, but we need to stay focused on the game and try to do the basics again.”
“I know if we score the crowd will go with us, but if we lose and it’s a big mistake and maybe they score a goal, they will say something probably on us as well.”
“That’s in every football club, but I think the special thing about Celtic is we have a lot of fans and they live for the club.”
“We know that if we lost on Wednesday night and in their life they probably have a bad day today because of our losses. We need to play with that too because they are very special and if we do the things again and start winning games again they will back on us again and they will be with us.”
Conor Spence
Conor Spence appeared on Sky Sports yesterday afternoon representing The Celtic Star. Here’s what was said…
🍀 “There’s visible confusion and frustration with key players on the pitch…”
Conor Spence from @CelticStarMag on Wilfried Nancy’s winless start at Celtic and if he can turn things around ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bI4VRWYW6a
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 19, 2025
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