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Wilfried Nancy insisted he did not fear the sack, asserting, “The team is very near to things turning around,” despite moving dangerously close to the exit with a convincing defeat by the Ibrox side.

A Second-Half Meltdown Leads to Derby Defeat

The Hoops were ahead their oldest rivals at the break but a collapse after the break enabled Rangers to draw level on points with the current Scottish Premiership champions. Nancy, who was hired in December, has now been in charge for six defeats in his first eight games.

“We are together with the board,” stated the manager.

Pressed on the speculation, Nancy said: “I don’t think about it. I think about finding ways to aid my players to excel on details.

Protest Erupts

Celtic’s support voiced their fury – directed at the dugout and directors – by gathering outside the stadium. Club directors are thought to be considering to return to Martin O’Neill, who had a fruitful temporary stint before Nancy was hired, if the Frenchman were sacked.

“The outcomes [that leads to pressure]. So this is the situation for the moment. However in stating that’s how it is, that is not a sign that I am pessimistic. No. The message is we are on the cusp, extremely close to reverse our form.”

Nancy’s Persistent Belief

He remains focused on the fact the side play well for one half at a time. For instance, if not for poor finishing they would have been greater than 1-0 up. “There were positives except the fact that we haven’t scored a second goal,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but it's important to stay objective.

“The level we had at certain moments was really, really, really high. That is a fact. I could not talk like that if it was not the case. Therefore, in terms of results, I noted we've seen this before. For that reason I believe we are really close to a shift in fortunes. But for the moment: details, details, details.”

“I saw many, many good things that we did, as was the case today. However it’s about consistency. My outlook would not be the same. Therefore I am a big believer we’re going to be able to turn things around.”

Röhl’s Cautious Stance

Danny Röhl was cautious about a serious challenge in spite of what felt like a landmark win. “We take it game by game, and we can really build up momentum,” he said. “The confidence in the squad is outstanding.”