Celtic’s push to appoint Wilfried Nancy has taken on extra weight after fresh comments from the Columbus Crew boss revealed just how closely he has engaged with Pep Guardiola. The story does more than offer a headline.
It shows the type of operator Nancy is, the way he builds relationships and the level of respect he commands inside the game. For a coach who has jumped into the frame to replace Brendan Rodgers, these details matter.
Nancy has been on Celtic’s radar for weeks, and the club’s recruitment lead Paul Tisdale is understood to be driving the pursuit. Despite only four years in senior management, Nancy has already put together a trophy haul in MLS and forged a reputation for playing football with intent. What these insights add is a clearer look at the personality behind the tactics.
The encounter with Guardiola happened last summer when Manchester City used Columbus Crew’s base during their pre-season schedule. Nancy’s side had just beaten Aston Villa, while Celtic themselves stunned City in a friendly under Rodgers. When the two managers met, what followed was far more than a polite chat. It was a genuine exchange that stuck with Nancy.
For Celtic, that matters. It shows a coach confident enough to hold a conversation with one of the greatest in the sport, but humble enough to ask the right questions. It adds depth to the picture of a manager who could soon be guiding a squad full of expectations and demands in Glasgow.
Nancy said: (Scottish Sun), “It was amazing. First of all, you have to understand that he broke the ice right away.
“He told me ‘Hey Wilfried, you have to tell me the recipe to beat Aston Villa, because we didn’t do it! We should be doing that.’
“I said ‘yeah, Pep, come on.’ And after that, it started from there, and it was a great connection. I asked him questions, not about the way he plays, because I can see that. But the management.
“How he deals with players, the fact that you cannot put every player on the pitch. This is difficult to manage. He told me that, ‘yeah, this is football.’
“This is football, but you have to also be convinced that this is the best way to do it – but at the same time, you have to be good with the human beings.
“At certain moments you have to explain, sometimes not, but at the end of the day, this is a culture that you put in place. Which is going to be good for the players to accept, or not, this kind of situation.
“And after that, yes, we talked about tactics a bit. Not a bit, a lot! The way he changed the system and so on, and why he wants to play like that and so on.
“It was amazing. Because at the end of the day, this is not the same level, but this is the same sport, and we coach human beings, and we have the same problems.
“He was so…. nice. To ask me also ‘Hey, tell me about the league. Tell me how you feel. Tell me about your staff, how you work, and so on.’
“It was not only me talking. And for me, it was amazing. Because this is the type of person that I want to be, and I try to be.”
Those lines reveal why Celtic see potential in Nancy. The curiosity, the willingness to challenge himself and the comfort in discussing the harder parts of management show a coach who thinks beyond formations. He clearly pays attention to the emotional side of the job, something essential when working at a club where every selection is scrutinised.
His admiration for Guardiola is obvious, but more important is how naturally he fits into that conversation. It wasn’t a fan meeting an idol. It was two managers talking through the realities of the job. That confidence will stand him well if he does land in Glasgow, where pressure is constant and every decision has an audience.
Celtic FC manager Wilfried Nancy
Wilfried Nancy speaks to his players during the team’s practice Tuesday, March 16, 2021 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Celtic need someone who can connect with players, push standards and stay calm in demanding moments. Nancy seems wired for that type of environment. His record across MLS already showed he can build a team. This glimpse behind the scenes paints a picture of a coach who wants to grow and isn’t intimidated by big ideas or big personalities.
If Celtic seal the deal, they’re not just getting a coach who has lifted trophies. They’re getting someone shaped by real conversations with the elite, someone who thinks deeply about people as much as structure. And in this job, that combination often makes the difference.
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