Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is staring into the abyss after his side capitulated in a damaging 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Rangers at Celtic Park. A Youssef Chermiti double and a Mikey Moore strike overturned an early Celtic lead, plunging the home club into a full-blown crisis and igniting furious protests from their own supporters.
Promising Start Turns to Disaster for Celtic
The match began with palpable tension in the stands, but Celtic's players initially responded positively. They took a deserved lead in the first half through a moment of individual brilliance from Yang Hyun-jun. The South Korean winger danced past two weak challenges from Thelo Aasgaard and Nico Raskin before unleashing a stunning shot into the roof of Jack Butland's net.
For 45 minutes, Celtic were the dominant force, with Rangers struggling to cope. Auston Trusty missed a golden chance from a corner, and Butland made a smart save with his feet from Johnny Kenny. However, the hosts' failure to extend their advantage would prove costly, as their cutting edge faded after the break.
Rangers' Second-Half Onslaught
Rangers emerged for the second period with renewed purpose and needed just five minutes to draw level. Nico Raskin powered past Auston Trusty and cut the ball back for Youssef Chermiti, who expertly flicked the ball past Kasper Schmeichel from close range.
The equaliser shattered Celtic's composure, and their vulnerability was exposed again minutes later. In a catastrophic error, Anthony Ralston was dispossessed by Chermiti from a botched throw-in, allowing the Portuguese striker to race clear and slot past Schmeichel for his second goal.
The collapse was complete when Mikey Moore made it 3-1. His shot from distance should have been a routine save for the experienced Schmeichel, but the Danish goalkeeper was slow to react, letting the ball squirm past him. The mistake triggered a mass exodus from the home stands, accompanied by loud chants directed at the Celtic board.
Consequences and Fallout
This result marks a sixth defeat in eight games for under-fire boss Wilfried Nancy. Having publicly pleaded for time and understanding just days before the derby, this performance and result will severely undermine his position. The Celtic hierarchy now faces an imminent and critical decision on his future.
For Rangers, the victory is transformative. They are now level on points with Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, completely overturning the early-season struggles under former manager Russell Martin. The travelling support of 2,500 left in buoyant mood, dreaming of a genuine title challenge.
Celtic, meanwhile, are left to ponder a staggering decline from the heights of last season's Champions League campaign. With the board under fire and the team lacking resilience, the club finds itself in a state of turmoil both on and off the pitch.
