Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy finally celebrated his first win in charge, guiding the Hoops to a 3-1 triumph over a ten-man Aberdeen side at Parkhead. The victory will come as a huge relief to the French coach, who faced intense scrutiny after an inauspicious start to his tenure with defeats to Hearts, Roma, St Mirren, and Dundee United.
Benjamin Nygren broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, before Aberdeen’s fortunes worsened with a straight red card for 20-year-old defender Dylan Lobban following a foul on Daizen Maeda. Although Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov produced a series of excellent saves, his team could not withstand Celtic’s relentless pressure.
Substitute Kenan Bilalovic pulled one back for Aberdeen in the 74th minute, momentarily threatening a comeback. However, late strikes from Keiran Tierney and James Forrest secured a well-deserved three points for the Hoops, moving them to within six points of Premiership leaders Hearts with a game in hand.
Nancy admitted he had experienced an unlucky start to his Celtic reign. “I don’t believe in luck, but since I’ve been here I haven’t had it,” he said. He recalled misfortunes against Hearts and Roma, but praised his players’ unwavering determination. “They kept attacking despite setbacks. Attack, attack, attack – waves, waves, waves. Their resilience deserved those goals.”
The Frenchman, who previously managed Columbus Crew, revealed that he had the option to delay his arrival but chose early December to gain crucial insight ahead of the January transfer window. “Timing was right to evaluate the squad and make informed decisions,” he explained.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin accepted the defeat without complaint. He noted that while his team had hoped for a stronger start, Celtic’s superior performance and the red card ultimately decided the game. “We wanted to grab a point, but it wasn’t to be,” Thelin said.
Nancy’s first win demonstrates his ability to instil belief in the squad and implement a proactive, attacking style. With the Premiership title race heating up, Celtic now look a more confident and formidable side, ready to challenge Hearts for top spot.