After losing his first four matches in charge and making the worst start of any manager in Celtic’s 138-year history, it was imperative that Wilfried Nancy found a way to stop the rot.
By claiming back-to-back victories over Aberdeen and Livingston either side of Christmas, the effect was twofold.
Firstly, it stopped the bleeding and bought Nancy some time. What it also did, however, was give rise to the illusory notion of Celtic making progress under their new manager.
Let’s strip things back. Two wins, both of which were laboured and unconvincing. One against an Aberdeen team who played with ten men for 45 minutes, the other a chaotic affair against a Livingston side bottom of the league.
If there was any belief among supporters that Nancy and Celtic were finally starting to click, it was shattered on a truly shambolic night at Fir Park on Tuesday night.
Motherwell absolutely battered them. The match ended 2-0 to a team coached superbly by the ever-more impressive Jens Berthel Askou. Had Celtic lost by four or five, they could have had no complaints.
Celtic are facing a dilemma over whether to stick or twist with under fire boss Nancy
The champions were reduced to a laughing stock by a dominant Motherwell side
It sent them hurtling back to square one. Back to fans calling for Nancy to be sacked. Back to the same kamikaze defending that was witnessed in the defeats to Hearts, Roma, St Mirren and Dundee United.
Back to the same look of bewilderment on the players’ faces as they tried to get to grips with Nancy’s 3-4-3 system and general style of play. Back to them looking completely bereft of any understanding of what they are actually being asked to do. Back to a basic inability to do the fundamentals.
And back to the manager talking gobbledygook in his post-match media conference, with Nancy claiming there were signs of ‘progress’ and ‘good things’, despite all evidence to the contrary.
His words rang hollow against a backdrop of defensive frailties which have seen Celtic concede a quite astonishing 15 goals across his seven matches in charge.
Seven matches which have yielded only two wins and five defeats. Digging into the numbers a little more, Nancy is mired in his own personal slump.
If you take it back to the end of his time in charge of Columbus Crew, he has won only three of his last 16 matches as a manager. That’s almost half a season and his numbers equate to relegation form.
Go back further still and it’s just seven wins in his last 24 games. A reckless gamble right from the outset, his appointment is blowing up in Celtic’s face.
Heading into the January transfer window, and with an Old Firm derby to come against Rangers on Saturday which could see the Ibrox side move level on points with victory, it also leaves Celtic with a huge dilemma.
The signs are that Celtic will let Nancy rebuild in January, but how will that work out?
Ibrahim Said was a thorn in Celtic’s side before opening the scoring for the Steelmen
Do they back Nancy and bankroll a rebuild? Or do they cut their losses? It’s a classic case of stick or twist – and the result against Rangers could well be pivotal.
The evidence at the moment would suggest the Celtic hierarchy are doubling down and preparing to arm Nancy with a few new signings once the transfer window opens.
Players he knows from the MLS are being lined up. Julian Araujo, a Mexican international right-back who previously played for LA Galaxy, could arrive on loan from Bournemouth in time for Saturday.
Others being pursued at the moment include Diego Rossi, a Uruguayan international forward who plays with Columbus Crew.
Can this current shambles at Parkhead really be fixed with a couple of new signings, however?
Given that Celtic have cash reserves of almost £80million in the bank, money certainly won’t be an issue.
Finding the right quality of player, though, and locating enough of them in such a concerted period of time, will be a huge challenge.
What the club do over these next four weeks, in terms of whether they stick with the manager and back him, or look elsewhere for a new boss, will define their season.
As things stand, the intention is to allow Nancy to mould this squad to suit his own style and system. On the face of it, that would be standard practice with any new manager.
Elliot Watt, far right, celebrates second goal after Celtic’s defence fell apart once again
Yet Nancy’s start has been so disastrous, the damage inflicted so catastrophic, that many fans are questioning the wisdom of allowing him to spend money in January.
All the more so when Paul Tisdale continues to play a major role in recruitment as the club’s head of football operations.
As things stand, there is simply no faith that Nancy, nor those above him, can spark the kind of turnaround required for Celtic to salvage their season.
Patience is a luxury rarely afforded in Glasgow. If Nancy were to lose at home to Rangers on Saturday, there is a legitimate view that his position would already be untenable.
The major powerbrokers at Celtic are not typically rash in their decision-making. Whenever possible, the club do tend to back their managers.
But that support can only be given if there are grounds on which it can be validated. The debacle being witnessed under Nancy shows no signs of abating any time soon.
Celtic have been so dreadful, and the whole episode so traumatic, that they are now generating headlines beyond Scotland.
That might be what does for Nancy in the end. Dermot Desmond will not take kindly to the manner in which his club are being openly mocked and ridiculed on a global scale at the moment.
Celtic suffered 17 defeats in the calendar year of 2025. They lost two major cup finals, against Aberdeen and St Mirren.
Wilfried Nancy will be starting into the abyss if Celtic lose to fierce rivals Rangers on Saturday
They were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by a pub team from Kazakhstan.
They essentially severed ties with a man in Brendan Rodgers who, while not without his flaws, was one of their most successful managers.
It was an annus horribilis. Moving into 2026, supporters will hope that this will be a chance to turn the page and start afresh.
But Nancy already has the look of a man struggling to stay afloat, treading water and trying not to drown amid the pressure of it all.
Does he have one game to save his job? Only the Celtic hierarchy could answer that question.
Defeat to Rangers on Saturday, however, would leave him staring into the abyss.
