Wilfried Nancy makes Celtic pace change as manager responds to Evan Ferguson claim

Nancy took over at Celtic Park a week ago and immediately implemented his favoured 3-4-3 formation and high-tempo, attack-minded system. However, the former Columbus Crew boss has lost his first two matches - 2-1 in the Premiership to leaders Hearts and then 3-0 to Roma in the Europa League. The results have led critics to call into questions his methods so early into his tenure.

The Frenchman insisted he is committed to the brand of football he wants Celtic to play - but accepted he will listen to his players and not go too fast.

“I am different in terms of the previous coach,” said Nancy. “We are all different. Players have to adjust regarding that. I also have to adjust regarding the players, and also change - not a lot of change, but a few changes, because we are all different.

"So yes, it takes time. When you try to learn something, it's difficult to catch it like that. I knew that before I signed and this is the adversity that I knew that I would face. Now what is good is with my group, we have open discussion regarding everything; the system, the way we play, the way we attack, the way we defend, because I want them to feel good also regarding what we want to do.

"My job is not to arrive and say, 'This is how we're going to play, so we have to do this, and you shut your mouth'. I'm not like that. This is a project, this is why I want to do this, this is the big picture, now we're going to try to do it step by step, knowing that I have to slow down everything that I want to do.

"For the moment, the chemistry has been good. I have to accept that at certain moments, yes, I want to change, I want to talk, but I also have to figure it out, and this is not easy.

"Usually this is during the pre-season, but again, I accept the challenge, and I'm here for that. It's new for me also but we are all on the same boat, and I can feel the good energy with my players, knowing that this is not an easy task, but everybody knows that."

Nancy’s discussion with Celtic players

Nancy held talks with his squad on Friday at Celtic’s Lennoxtown training base on his methodology and welcomed their input.

“When I was a player, the coach was saying 'you run and you shut your mouth',” the 48-year-old continued. “Now it's not like this. I like to explain why we do what we do, and we discuss.

“But obviously I need to be convinced of the way I want to play, because as a leader, if I'm not convinced, they will not follow. So yes, I have the conviction that this is the way I want to play. Now, I am able to twist certain things, because I don't want to change everything drastically, so interaction."

Nancy rejected the suggestion from Roma striker Evan Ferguson that Celtic players did not know their roles on the pitch. "He can say whatever he wants,” retorted Nancy. “The difficulty is, we faced a good team, like I said. At certain moments we struggled and it could have been better for sure.

"But yes, my players know what to do. But after that, the execution was not good at this moment and after that, if he felt it, I have no problem."