Jeff Stelling names Rangers song that made him smile as Celtic in 'one of the worst decisions we've ever seen'
The former Sky Sports presenter has been talking in the aftermath of Celtic 1-3 Rangers.
Jeff Stelling couldn’t help but crack a smile after Rangers chanting at Celtic - as he assessed Wilfried Nancy’s Hoops tenure.
The former Sky Sports presenter was hosting talkSPORT’s morning breakfast show on Monday and touched on a calamitous derby day for the Premiership champions, who lost 3-1 at Parkhead against Rangers. After a strong first half put them a goal up, poor defending in the second had them succumbing to a costly defeat for Nancy, who’s job as Celtic head coach is under pressure after six defeats in eight games.
After the interim reign of Martin O’Neill followed Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, Stelling reckons Celtic’s board took a major risk bringing Nancy in from MLS side Columbus Crew. Amid tensions between Celtic fans and the hierarchy, Rangers fans chanting for the Parkhead board to remain did make Stelling smile.
Jeff Stelling on Celtic 1-3 Rangers
Stelling said on Celtic, the defeat against Rangers, and Nancy during the course of discussion with Celtic hero Charlie Mulgrew and former Arsenal player Ray Parlour: “Wilfred Nancy's appointment at Celtic, arguably, one of the worst decisions we've ever seen. So when Martin O'Neill stepped in after Brendan Rodgers, he won seven out of eight. Wilfred Nancy arrived from the MLS, he's lost six out of eight.
“The latest, of course, against Old Firm rivals Rangers. They led as well in that game, but lost 3-1. So what next for the Frenchman? What puzzles me is when I hear Wilfred Nancy talking and he says he sees signs of improvement. Where exactly is he seeing those signs of improvement?
“I know it's hard to bear as a Celtic fan but in the second half, as a neutral, the Rangers fans are chanting, ‘keep the board, keep the board.’ Which, you know, brought a small smile to my face. Talking about the board, can they risk giving Wilfred Nancy funds in this transfer window?
“I think everyone accepts they need reinforcements but are they going to trust him with those reinforcements? It was just a strange appointment in the sense of it was a massive gamble to take a manager from the MLS to manage one of the biggest clubs in Britain. It was a huge, huge gamble.”
Charlie Mulgrew on Celtic under Wilfried Nancy
Mulgrew said: “I think what he's talking about is there are spells in games where things look really good. The first half on Saturday was very good, but it's not enough. Celtic losing one game, drawing one game is a disaster.
“Up here in Glasgow, you feel it everywhere. People speak about it until the next game. To lose six games out of eight is just nowhere near good enough. Everybody knows it. So there's small signs there and I think when he's coming out in press conferences and saying there's signs of improvement, I suppose it's the only thing he can say. It's just not good enough.
“The main thing is when Martin O'Neill steps in, I don't think it would have mattered what formation Martin O'Neill played. I think the way he is with people and the way he manages people, you can see the players clearly responding to that and it's because he's authentic. He's got an energy that he brings, even the way he talks to the media and stuff. You can feel and you can trust the way he talks. I just don't get that with Nancy.”