New Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy insists he won’t “waste time” thinking about his critics after his first game in charge sparked talk about his fashion sense as well as his use of tools to communicate with players.
Nancy had just begun life in Glasgow after making the move from Columbus Crew when he oversaw a 2-1 defeat at home to title rivals Hearts on Sunday.
The defeat allowed the Edinburgh side to open up a three-point gap at the top of the table, though Celtic have a game in hand, but it also sparked criticism of the new boss.
In addition to questioning the changes Nancy made to the team and formation, many made fun of a hand-held tactics board he produced to show players his instructions mid-game and the image became an internet meme. Pundit Ryan Stevenson pointed to the Frenchman’s choice of green trainers as part of his matchday outfit as something that failed to inspire confidence.
Asked about the reaction, Nancy shrugged it off as something he says he would never pay any attention to.
“When I had the opportunity to become a coach I was an assistant coach for seven years, so I worked with many coaches,” he said.
“So I always told myself that when you become a coach, cut everything. So this is what I did.
“So, on Twitter, I cut everything, regarding my name, regarding the club, regarding what people say, because they have the right to say something.
“This is part of the job. That’s why we study for that. And after that, I’m not here to comment on everything.
“We can go to a restaurant together and maybe you’re going to say that you like the food and I’m going to say, I don’t like it. You know what I mean?
“So at the end of the day, this is part of the job, and me, I control what I can control, to be good with my players, with my club, with the people that I work with.
“And to maximise our chance to win games by having a good performance.”
The former Columbus Crew and Montreal manager added: “People deserve the right to talk.
“I’m going to dress one way, maybe they are going to say that they don’t like the way I dress, so I don’t waste time on that.
“If I use it (the tactics board), it’s because it’s good for me. Simple as that and I’m not saying that I’m going to use it all the time.
“I’m going to be really honest with you.”
Nancy is short on time to get his ideas across in a hectic schedule that sees his side follow the Hearts match with a home game against Roma in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by the Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren on Sunday.
He said the busy start was something that excites him, but admitted his mother had said he looked like he was showing signs of tiredness after making the move across the Atlantic.
“My mum told me that I have bags (under my eyes).
“I said, ‘Yeah, mummy, I just came in, jet-lagged, trying to anticipate everything’.
“But again, this is part of our job. I’m really excited by that. So, I try to stay at peace with myself, at peace with you.
“I try to open my eyes to understand the culture. Try to open my eyes to also understand the context. And after that, I’m going to do what I used to do in terms of the way I want to play, because this is a lifestyle.
“This is not something that I’m trying to cope with. This is something that I feel. After that we’ll see.”
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