If Wilfried Nancy does walk into Celtic Park as the next manager, Celtic fans shouldn’t just be thinking about formations and line-ups, they should be thinking about what every day at Lennoxtown will feel like.
That’s where, according to long-time colleague Antoine Guldner, Nancy truly leaves his mark. And speaking exclusively to CeltsAreHere, Guldner offers a rare, inside look at a coach whose biggest influence comes not on matchdays, but in the work between them.
His perspective comes from lived experience, not reputation. For Celtic supporters trying to understand the personality, leadership style and training culture Nancy would bring to Glasgow, this is as close to the source as you can get.
What becomes immediately clear from Guldner’s recollections is that Nancy builds his teams on the training pitch. He doesn’t just run drills; he creates environments. Intensity, thinking, decision-making, competition and joy are the pillars he works from. That balance, demanding but positive, structured but freeing – is something Celtic fans haven’t consistently seen since Ange Postecoglou left the building.
Just as striking is Nancy’s response to tough moments. While some managers grip tighter when results turn, Guldner says Nancy does the opposite: he opens up, listens more, brings players together and injects energy back into the group. It’s leadership through connection rather than fear, and at a club where pressure can swamp even experienced coaches, that trait is invaluable.
He said: “You know, he likes small-sided games for sure, intensity, 4v2. Almost everything is with the ball and with a thinking approach.
“You need to see, you need to think, you need to take a decision linked with the game. You need to compete and you need to have joy.
“He can’t accept a player without commitment. He’ll explain why, he’ll give them the desire, but after that it’s up to the player to play with full commitment and to try to grow every time, to compete at his best. You can’t really do mistakes if you try hard.
“For example, in Columbus, after maybe two losses, he decided to let the players talk and understand what they were thinking. Then he organised something fun for the team to keep positive energy.
“He just tweaked a bit, gave them confidence that sometimes the process needs a bad result to find the rhythm – and after that, they went on to win the championship.
“One thing I would say to Celtic fans is: he cares. He cares about his team, his players, his fans. He wants to win, but he wants to win with the right process. You can win and you can win with big enjoyment – if you have both, that’s happiness.”
These four insights show a coach who won’t just tweak Celtic’s tactics, he’ll change the rhythm of the whole club. Under Nancy, training won’t be something players simply get through. It will be sharp, competitive and full of purpose, with the ball at the centre of everything. Players won’t only work hard physically; they’ll be pushed to think quicker, solve problems and make decisions under pressure.
His standards around commitment matter too. At a time when some Celtic displays have lacked intensity, Nancy’s refusal to accept passengers will hit home with supporters. He insists on effort and honesty, but he also allows players to make mistakes and express themselves. That mix can free players who’ve been holding back or playing within strict limits.
What might give Celtic fans the most confidence is how naturally he deals with pressure. When things go wrong, he doesn’t point fingers or retreat. He brings the group together, has the hard conversations and finds solutions. In Glasgow, where scrutiny never stops, that kind of calm leadership is priceless.
And above everything else, Guldner’s message is simple: Nancy genuinely cares. About his players, about the atmosphere he creates, and about doing things the right way. If he arrives at Celtic Park this week, supporters won’t just be getting a tactician, they’ll be getting someone who builds culture, teaches constantly and wants his team to win with joy as well as intensity.
From Guldner’s exclusive insight to CeltsAreHere, it feels like Celtic could be about to appoint a manager who changes not only results, but the entire mood and identity of the club.
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