Danny Rohl’s comments ahead of Saturday’s derby come with Celtic in a fragile place after a worrying start under Wilfried Nancy.

His comments come at a moment when Celtic are under real pressure and searching for stability after a poor run.

Wilfried Nancy’s start has been difficult, with five defeats in his first seven matches in charge. Each loss has added to the sense of unease, and confidence around the squad feels fragile heading into the biggest domestic fixture of the season.

The timing matters as much as the content. Rangers can move above Celtic in the league with a win at Celtic Park, which would shift momentum sharply and deepen the scrutiny already surrounding the home dugout.

There is also a growing belief among supporters that Nancy’s position could be reviewed if results do not improve quickly. That reality hangs over the derby and adds weight to every comment made in the build-up.

He said: (Rangers FC), “Yeah, I think they’re nervous, from what you heard so far.

“But I think it’s about us, how we start in such a game.

“I totally believe if we are right there, we are on front foot, we can win some good balls and we hurt them, then they will be more nervous.

“But if they create some good moments in the beginning, then I think the crowd will be straight behind them.

“And I think this is a bit more beside the tactics, also the emotional and psychological things, that we have to understand.”

From a Celtic point of view, these comments underline how exposed the club appears right now. Rival managers rarely speak this openly unless they feel an opening exists.

The pressure on Nancy has not come from one bad night but from a pattern that has formed quickly. Results against Hearts, Roma, St Mirren, Dundee United and Motherwell have all chipped away at belief.

Saturday now feels less like a normal derby and more like a defining moment. Celtic Park can lift a team, but it can also tighten if early moments go wrong.

For Celtic, the response must be immediate and clear. A fast, controlled start could flip the mood and push back against the narrative that is building.

If that does not happen, the tension will grow with every misplaced pass. In that situation, the doubts Rohl referenced would only become louder.

This match is about more than three points. It is about whether Nancy can steady the situation and show that progress still exists beneath the noise.

The players will need clarity and conviction from the first whistle. Anything less risks confirming the fears that have taken hold over recent weeks.

Rohl has spoken about emotion and psychology, and he understands the stage having lost his first derby to Martin O’Neill. Celtic must now show that nerves do not define them.

Derby games can change seasons in one afternoon. For Nancy, this one may shape how his short spell is remembered.

The stakes could not be much higher, even this early in the calendar year. Celtic now have the chance to answer words with action.