Football Dec 07, 2025

Wilfried Nancy: New Celtic boss tells players to 'believe in themselves' as he prepares for first game and transfer window

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Wilfried Nancy: New Celtic boss tells players to 'believe in themselves' as he prepares for first game and transfer window

New Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy believes he has inherited a "quality team" that should "believe a little bit more in themselves".

The Frenchman takes charge for the first time on Sunday against Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, live on SportNews.

He has the chance to take the Hoops top of the table after replacing interim manager Martin O'Neill, who led them to four straight league wins.

Victory would take Celtic three points clear with a game in hand before their attention turns to a Europa League home game against Roma on Thursday.

"Quality team, quality players, but they have to believe a little bit more in themselves," the 48-year-old said.

"After that, tactical flexibility. We have players who can play in different positions and for me this is important to have players who are able to play in two positions minimum.

"I want my players to be confident but I want them also to be humble.

"My job also is to challenge them for the best of the team.

"We play against a style of play, we don't play against the name of the team. Roma, the way they play is not the same as Hearts. We know what we have in front of us. We know what we want to do."

The 48-year-old does not have to wait long for his first chance to win silverware, with the League Cup final against St Mirren at Hampden Park on December 14.

He was also quizzed on what he expects from the January transfer window and he suggested there was a "profile that we need".

"Each organisation, the idea is to improve," he added.

"I'm going to have to assess the team. I know them as a team because I've watched many games. Now it's about knowing them as a person. After that we'll see what is the best for the team.

"I like to take my time. I know that I don't have a lot of time.

"It's not a secret I want to play in a certain way. Proactivity, try to put [pressure] on the opposition, try to attack the ball as soon as possible and after that also be disgusting to play against when we defend - because we're going to have moments when we've got to suffer."

Tags:

football news id:13479700

Share this article

Related Posts

Man City 2-1 Arsenal: How do Mikel Arteta's Gunners regain momentum and initiative in the Premier League title race after disappointing defeat?

Man City 2-1 Arsenal: How do Mikel Arteta's Gunners regain momentum and initiative in the Premier League title race after disappointing defeat?

"Panic on the streets of London," read the Manchester City banner at full-time. With his hair down, Erling Haaland was singing Flo Rida's: "Oh, someti...

Premier League title-race verdict: Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, players and Sky Sports pundits have their say after Man City beat Arsenal

Premier League title-race verdict: Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, players and Sky Sports pundits have their say after Man City beat Arsenal

Arsenal are still top of the Premier League - but Manchester City landed a big blow in the title race by winning the top-two showdown at the Etihad on...

Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk step up for Liverpool in Merseyside derby, Aston Villa set up perfect run-in - Premier League hits and misses

Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk step up for Liverpool in Merseyside derby, Aston Villa set up perfect run-in - Premier League hits and misses

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have won the lot at Liverpool so you could detect a certain reluctance from them to overstate the significance of th...

Championship talking points: Promotion is now Ipswich's to lose with Southampton's relentless run continuing

Championship talking points: Promotion is now Ipswich's to lose with Southampton's relentless run continuing

It wasn't a pretty performance from Ipswich but showing the character to fight back after going behind twice against Middlesbrough could be the game...

Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal: Erling Haaland settles enthralling encounter as Premier League title race takes fascinating twist

Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal: Erling Haaland settles enthralling encounter as Premier League title race takes fascinating twist

Manchester City blew the Premier League title race wide open by edging an epic game 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to move within three points of long-time...

Everton 1-2 Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk's 100th-minute winner decides first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Everton 1-2 Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk's 100th-minute winner decides first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Virgil van Dijk headed in a 100th-minute winner for Liverpool as they beat Everton 2-1 in first ever Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium.The Li...