Celtic manager Nancy dismisses criticism after debut loss

Wilfried Nancy has no intention of dwelling on the backlash following his first match in charge of Celtic.

The French coach began his tenure at Parkhead with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Hearts at home on Sunday, which saw the Scottish title holders trail the Premiership frontrunners by three points, despite having an extra fixture to play.

Nancy drew plenty of attention for employing a portable tactics board from the touchline to relay instructions to his players, and even one radio pundit raised eyebrows at his selection of green footwear.

However, the 48-year-old ex-Columbus Crew and Montreal head coach, ahead of Celtic's Europa League clash with Roma at home on Thursday, commented: "Everyone has the freedom to voice their opinions.

"I choose my attire in a certain manner, and if some dislike it, I simply move on without overthinking it.

"When I opt for the tactics board, it's because it suits my approach. That's all there is to it, though I won't necessarily rely on it every time."

He further noted that since entering the coaching profession, he has chosen to tune out distractions from social media.

"This comes with the territory of the role. We prepare for it accordingly. Beyond that, I am not one to react to every remark," he stated.

"For me, it's about focusing on what I can influence, maintaining strong relationships with my team, the club, and my colleagues."

Nancy shared that his mother had expressed worry over the intense pace of his early days with the Glasgow powerhouse, culminating in a Scottish League Cup final versus St Mirren at Hampden Park this Sunday.

"My mother pointed out the bags under my eyes," he recounted. "I replied, 'Yes, mum, I've just arrived, dealing with jet lag and planning ahead for everything'.

"Yet, this is inherent to what we do. I'm truly enthusiastic about it all. So, I aim to remain calm within myself and with those around me."