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The under-pressure manager declared he did not fear the sack, claiming, “I believe we are very near to things turning around,” despite moving dangerously close to being fired with a convincing defeat by Rangers.

Another Capitulation Sees Old Firm Loss

Celtic were in front their oldest rivals at half-time but a collapse after the break let the Gers to draw level on points with the defending Scottish Premiership champions. Nancy, who was brought in from the MLS, has now overseen six defeats in his first eight fixtures.

“There is unity at the club,” stated the manager.

Asked directly about the speculation, Nancy responded: “That’s not my focus. I think about discovering solutions to aid my players to excel on details.

Fan Fury Outside Parkhead

The fans made their feelings clear – directed at the board and manager – by gathering at Parkhead. The hierarchy are thought to be considering to bring back the interim manager, who steered the club during a caretaker period last year, if Nancy departs.

“The outcomes [that leads to pressure]. So this is the reality for the moment. However when I say that’s how it is, it doesn’t mean that I am giving up. Not at all. What I mean we are on the cusp, imminently close to change the narrative.”

Nancy’s Persistent Belief

Nancy continues to cling to the fact the side can perform strongly for 45 minutes at a time. Indeed, if not for missed chances they could have been greater than 1-0 up. “The performance had merit aside from the fact that we haven’t scored our chances,” he said. “I accept that we lost, but it's important to stay balanced.

“The level we had at stages was of top quality. That is a fact. I wouldn't speak so positively if it was untrue. But that’s why, in terms of results, I said we've seen this before. Which is why I feel we are really close to a shift in fortunes. But for the moment: the fine margins.”

“I saw a lot of encouraging signs that we did, like today again. But now comes down to sustaining it. My outlook would not be if I didn't believe it. This is why I am convinced we will manage to get back on track.”

The Rangers Boss Outlook

The victorious boss was cautious about a serious challenge even after what felt like a landmark win. “We take it game by game, then we can develop momentum,” he said. “The belief in the group is excellent.”