Celtic winger Sebastian Tounekti has opened up about his struggle playing for Celtic under Wilfried Nancy before heading to the AFCON in December last year.
The Tunisian was deployed as a wing back under the Frenchman during his ill-fated 33 days in charge at the club and he, like many others in the squad, really struggled to get to grips with what was being asked of him.
Speaking ahead of Celtic’s Europa League tie in Italy against Bologna, he opened up about things:
Tounetki said: “As a player I see myself more as a winger than as a wing-back.
“So of course, I can play on my strengths more when I play as a winger. When I played as a wing-back that was new for me.
“There was lots of running, so maybe when I had my attacking actions I wasn’t 100 per cent ready for it because it was so much running.
“Now, as a winger, you are almost standing on the line and waiting on the ball. My style fits more the way we play now.”
Celtic lost six games out of eight under Nancy, including against Hearts, Rangers and a League Cup final against St Mirren.
Tounekti added: “I wasn’t there for so long. I was there for a week or something, it was a small time.
“I was sometimes defending the last line, and that’s something I’ve never been doing because I’m a winger and we always have a full-back behind us.
“That was something I learned and maybe I got better at that.
“For me, he was a coach who had his own style. As a player, it’s really easy to blame everyone like the coaches, but also as a group we didn’t do well in that time.”
Now working under Martin O’Neill for the second time this season, he is more comfortable of what is being asked of him on the field.
He said: “I’m playing where the coach wants me to play. If that’s on the right or on the left that’s OK for me.
“I played a little bit on the right when I played in Norway.
“I can play on both wings, but of course I think my strongest side is on the left.”
Tounekti came into the squad in September last year and gave a bit of life to the attack, however his star began to fade, even under O’Neill’s first interim spell. The Nancy era proved very difficult for him but now he has come back from the AFCON he does appear to have a spring in his step.
Celtic need all their attacking players to be at the races for what will be a very defining part of the season. A defeat in Bologna would be a massive blow to staying in European football this season. However, a defeat on Sunday against Hearts would have the Hoops needing to climb a mountain to even get anywhere near the top of the table between now and the end of the season.
The bhoys must dig deep and come up with some big results.
The deal for Tomas Cvancara looks all but done and he could be in the door and registered for the trip to Tynecastle, which would be a welcome boost.
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