Q: How do you feel the players have adjusted to the new formation? Will it take time for individuals to work out exactly what we need to do?
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy arrives prior to the Premier League match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on December 07, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Wilfried Nancy: “In the first half, we changed the system. In the second half, it was the same system. And after that, when we wanted to push, it was not the system that we started with. So for me, this is more about how we can deal when teams defend really low. And I think that we were in between to play through the middle. We had opportunities to play through the middle, or to go wide. Or the opposite, go wide and go through the middle. And I think that this is the kind of nuances that can be better. But again, the intention was there. This is now nuances that we need to improve.”
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy reacts during the Premier League match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on December 07, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: Just on the system itself, did you consider not changing it before this game? Because you only had one day on the training ground with the players. Or were you always going to change the shape a little bit?
Wilfried Nancy: “Again, to be honest with you, I cannot talk too much because I have to fight. But if we watch my team in the past, we never attack the same way. So it’s not about the system. We started to attack with a back three. But after that, it was not a back three. So it’s not about the system. For me, this is about the relation that we can have between players.
Oisin McEntee of Heats ( not seen) scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on December 07, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“Because I think that defensively, we did a good job. After that, when we were pushing, pushing, pushing. But defensively, really, really good performance. The intensity for the defensive transition was really, really good. So for me, this is more about how we can connect a little bit more. And when we connected, we had opportunities to break them.
“But second half, we didn’t connect. We put in balls, not in the beginning, but at the end, we put in balls and balls and balls. It’s possible to pass and not cross in the air with big guys. And this is the kind of nuance that I think that we can do better. And also late runs, you know, so kind of overlapping, kind of underlapping. This is all the kind of nuance that I think is going to come.”
Callum McGregor and new Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy are seen during the Premier League match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on December 07, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: What did you make of Hearts today? Do you feel that they are real title challengers with yourselves?
Wilfried Nancy: “Listen, the season is long. There are many games coming. So, okay, they have three points ahead. But for me, let’s control what we can control. Today, if I talk about the results, we conceded two goals. We could have done better on the first goal. So it’s on us. And the second goal, we could have done better. So this is what I call the performance. If we do better on this one, maybe they don’t score. So again, for me, this is more about what we need to improve. And the season is so long. This is really, really long.”
🗣️ “I’m not about losing or winning, I’m about having a good performance… We all want to win”
Wilfried Nancy gives his assessment on Celtic’s loss to Hearts ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/pUP68eANUg
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 7, 2025
Nancy certainly talks a good game, and knows what he is looking for from our team, by the sounds of things imo?
Yet there needs to be the connection between the players and manager, to be successful in gaining the results, which are a demand for our club.
That disappeared from Rodgers methods, reinstalled under the MoN and Maloney partnership.
So no-one really knows what to expect in that regards just yet, under Nancy?
So how much time is available within the club, with a new system in operation, an injury list as it currently is, want away players within the squad, and weakness throughout the playing squad to implement all the changes that are required, going forward?
Never going to be an easy fix.
Regardless Nancy needs to help himself also by ditching that tactic board for a start imo?
We already have enough spotlight upon our club in such a negative manner already, than adding to it?
Must admit to being disappointed to see Strachan being involved in the decision making process, moreso than Maloney or even fozzy?
Both were instrumental for MoN, yet both seems to have been discarded already?
Personally thinking that may be a big mistake from Nancy imo?
Still haven’t a clue what Strachan brings to our coaching set up, despite being in place for years now?
All in favour of a new coaching set up installed within our club.
Promoting Strachan within it, wouldn’t be a decision from Nancy that I would feel comfortable about imo?