Celtic’s heavy defeat to Roma at Parkhead has brought plenty of reaction, and former striker Chris Sutton was clear about what he saw.
Roma were quicker, cleaner in their play and far more organised, leaving Wilfried Nancy’s team struggling to live with them during a tough European night in Glasgow.
The display has raised questions about the direction of the side under Nancy, whose early spell has come during poor form, injuries and a relentless run of games. #
Celtic lacked shape and belief in key moments, while defensive errors let Roma take control well before the break. The players had a difficult evening, but attention has also turned to Nancy’s choice to stick with a back-three setup that again looked open and easy to play through.
For many supporters, the manner of the loss felt all too familiar: another European night at home where Celtic fell well short of the level required.
Even with the anger surrounding the result, Sutton tried to keep some balance, noting Roma’s superiority and the scale of the job Nancy has walked into. The ex-Celtic forward urged patience, stressing that judging the new manager too early would be unfair given what he has taken over.
Sutton’s view points to a wider belief that Celtic simply lack the quality right now to compete regularly with top European sides.
The January window is already looking vital, and pressure is rising on the club to give Nancy the backing he needs. With big league games to come and a League Cup final against St Mirren on Sunday, the situation could hardly be more delicate.
Is anyone really surprised by Celtic being outclassed by Roma tonight? Inevitable result as Roma are at a different level sadly. Wilfried Nancy was always up against it coming in at a tricky time. He needs time and patience and better players brought in in January…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) December 11, 2025
Sutton’s verdict, while blunt, rings true. Roma looked sharper, more physical and far more assured in possession, while Celtic’s tactical approach collapsed under the pressure.
Defensive decisions were slow, midfield transitions were poorly managed and the forward line never threatened consistently. Sutton’s view reflects an uncomfortable truth: Celtic, at present, simply do not have enough quality to compete with teams of Roma’s calibre.
Nancy’s first week in charge have been complicated by injuries, a cramped fixture list and limited training time. His system demands bravery and precision, and Celtic are not yet delivering either.
Sutton’s call for patience stems from the understanding that structural changes take time, and that judging Nancy fully on two competitive matches would be premature. Questions about shape and selection are valid, but the wider rebuild cannot be ignored.
January now carries enormous weight. Sutton’s comments echo the rising expectation that Celtic must strengthen decisively if they are to progress competitively, both in Europe and domestically.
Attention now turns to Sunday’s League Cup final, a huge occasion for Nancy despite being so early in his tenure.
St Mirren will not roll over, and the pressure on Celtic to produce a performance with purpose and discipline has intensified after two damaging defeats. A trophy would steady the atmosphere around the club and give Nancy a platform; another flat display would only heighten scrutiny.
Seven points from six matches keeps them alive, and reaching the typical 10-point benchmark for progression remains achievable. But performances must improve dramatically. Nights like this highlight not just what Celtic lack, but what they must become.
For Nancy and his players, the coming weeks are decisive. The Roma defeat was painful, but the response, in effort, in mentality and in recruitment, will matter far more than the scoreline itself.
A truly difficult watch tonight and from the very outset it appeared that not one single player had any understanding of the role the manager expected them to carry out.And the goalkeeper’s distribution was abysmal and continually put the team under pressure by “consistently” playing the ball straight to the opposition.A horror show all round from start to finish.
Sumbdy help us😢🤞🤞
1st thing is we don’t have the players with a full squad to implement his system never mind with our injury list. Playing wingers as wing-backs, playing Yang on his not favouried side for a player not playing well.
He also made a mistake on Sunday by first substituting Nygren, then changes his mind and keeps him on, then takes him off and we look better.
He then starts him tonight and Nygren is not up to the job, and before people jump down my throat, yes hes arrives late and well in the box and scores goals. However, he is not competitive, aggressive enough, doesn’t have a great first touch and isn’t aware of what is around him. The amount of times the ball was played to him and he lost it was unbelievable when he was on the pitch. Only once did he retain it and make a good pass in 60 mins.
Also, when we were pressuring and the ball went to a player in his area he bundles into players, pulls players fouls players always giving away a free kick, letting the other team to relieve the pressure. When you are within 35 yards and your team are pressing them put pressure on your man, make them rush a pass, make a bad decission or just get rid of it. Don’t continually give away free kicks and let them off and releave pressure.
I have looked at Nancy and think he could be good but a big January window will be required and with our system (Tisdale) and board I don’t have any faith. Our board saboutaged our team to mess with Brendan, they have also hurt the new manager too.
Nancy needs to realise that Sunday is massive and his system is second to the result. If he looses Sunday I fear he could be on a hiding to nothing and our session could disintegrate and our board would then not back him in January even if they say they will, but we have been lied to many times before by our spineless, egotistical, narcassitic, meglomaniac board!
Well said big John, but can you truly imagine sitting in the pissing rain watching that garbage??
We did.. and to be honest.. as I’ve said already tonight… I never saw one of our players who had a clue what the manager was asking him to do.. we’re feckin doomed on Sunday if he perseveres with this absolute rubbish of a system his players can’t grasp.. St.Mirren are very physical and will press us of the pitch
#nancyout
Why did Nancy change the winning system Martin O’Neill had put in place? He came in and tried to implement a completely different style of football mid-season, which is just crazy given the absence of quality in the team. I am far from convinced about this man as Celtic manager. That team looks completely disjointed and afraid. Not good!
I hope this not a mirror of Russel Martin Nancy had plenty of time to change to his style of play as Martin O’Neil got some confidence back in to this poor team . Changing to a back 3 is fine if you have the players who are good in that system and backed up by very good wingers and a strong mid field celtic at present dont have these type of players”and poor centre forward it was going to be a car crash trying to start this system so early by Nancy.
I agree with every single comment made tonight. It is pretty naive, or is it pig headed, for Nancy to come in and change a winning system Celtic had under Martin O’Neill. I hate to say it but if he doesn’t ditch his 3 at the back system in Sunday’s League Cup Final then Celtic could be beaten by a dogged St.Mirren!!
Definitely outclassed tonight but it doesn’t help playing a new system that the players are not used to and in fact one which the present crop of players as a whole are not capable of playing.
It stands to reason that a more balanced system should have been played for these 3 crucial matches (2 of which have now been lost).
The new, if you can call it a new system, basically three at the back should have been gradually introduced after these 3 games which have significant magnitude for the club.
Also even when the new system is implemented, there should still be the flexibility to change during any game.
Continually playing the same system without flexibility allows opponents to plan and counteract the system as they know exactly how Celtic are going to play.
Stick to what the players know best. Time enough to change things up after the January window when players are bought who will strengthen the team and along with the core of the team we have now created a team capable of playing any system and capable of changing the system mid game.
One fortunate take away from last night is the fact that due to other results going out way, we still sit in a qualifying spot in 24th place.
One win from our last 2 games should see us qualify.
Bayern Munich seems a lifetime away. Thank you Lawwell Desmond and Co, i hope you are proud of your managed decline.
Roma’s Evan Ferguson summed it up perfectly when he said that the Celtic players didn’t know what they were doing. That’s on Nancy and I guarantee he follows the same style on Sunday. Remember, he said he is “not concerned” about the result. That’s insanity!