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

Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa: Ryan Sessegnon scores Cottagers' first goal in three games to raise European hopes

Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa: Ryan Sessegnon scores Cottagers' first goal in three games to raise European hopes

Fulham ground out a first win - and goal - in three games to move level with the final European spot in the early weekend standings with a narrow 1-0...

Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: Mo Salah injured as Reds move up to fourth in Premier League

Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: Mo Salah injured as Reds move up to fourth in Premier League

Liverpool are up to fourth in the Premier League after earning a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, but Mohamed Salah may have played his final game for...

West Ham United 2-1 Everton: Callum Wilson's late winner keeps Hammers out of Premier League relegation zone

West Ham United 2-1 Everton: Callum Wilson's late winner keeps Hammers out of Premier League relegation zone

Callum Wilson came off the bench to score in stoppage time as West Ham beat Everton 2-1 to stay out of the Premier League relegation zone.On a topsy-t...

Wolves 0-1 Tottenham: Joao Palhinha scores late on to give Spurs a Premier League lifeline at Molineux

Wolves 0-1 Tottenham: Joao Palhinha scores late on to give Spurs a Premier League lifeline at Molineux

Joao Palhinha poked in a late winner for Tottenham as they picked up their first Premier League victory of 2026 in a 1-0 win at Wolves that gives them...

Mo Salah: Liverpool leave forward out of squad to face Inter Milan but he avoids disciplinary action over comments

Mo Salah: Liverpool leave forward out of squad to face Inter Milan but he avoids disciplinary action over comments

Liverpool have left Mohamed Salah out of Tuesday's Champions League squad to face Inter Milan, but the forward will not face any disciplinary action o...

WSL LIVE! Chelsea Women, Man City Women and Man Utd in action with three games live on Sky Sports plus free match highlights

WSL LIVE! Chelsea Women, Man City Women and Man Utd in action with three games live on Sky Sports plus free match highlights

Salah's bombshell interview plunges Liverpool future into doubtIn an explosive interview, Mohamed Salah has plunged his Liverpool future into doubt and suggeste...