By:
Mark Hendry
Celtic suffered defeat at home to Hearts as Wilfried Nancy and assistant Kwame Ampadu failed to deliver three points on their debut.
Ampadu and Nancy were in the dugout for the first time as the Hoops were stunned by title rivals Hearts who stole a win at Parkhead.
It was a poor afternoon for the current Scottish Premiership title holders with the players missing a plethora of chances in front of goal.
Nancy and Ampadu made a conscious decision to make sweeping changes to the starting XI as well as the set up left by former interim boss Martin O’Neill with three at the back the preferred formation.
It was a shout from the new manager and his backroom staff which came just three days into the role – in arguably the club’s biggest game of the season to date – and that triggered early questions from the fans via social media.
Celtic lose first Wilfried Nancy game vs Hearts
Both Nancy and Ampadu are on the training pitch on a daily basis but O’Neill had steadied the ship at Lennoxtown and built a winning machine again following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation.
And moving to a new system would always be a risky strategy for any new staff to put their thoughts and desires across to their players in such a short space of time.
Celtic had dominated early proceedings with Daizen Maeda in particular spurning big opportunities. The Japanese forward had been picked ahead of Irishman Johnny Kenny, 22, despite the striker flourishing under O’Neill.
As is so often the case in football, missing chances can often come back to bite and Celts were caught cold when Claudio Braga found the back of the net for the visitors minutes before the break to silence Parkhead.
Nancy and Ampadu had decisions to make at the break but opted not to go with an overhaul or big changes at the break, but that also came to cost them and Celtic as they went 2-0 down.
Ireland hopeful Oisin McEntee powered in a stunning header from a corner which left both coaches on the sidelines scratching their heads at how their first match in charge had gone so poorly.
Kieran Tierney would reduce the deficit in stoppage time but it was a poor start for Celtic’s new coaching staff and one they must remedy fast with AS Roma to come on Thursday in the Europa League.
There is also the small matter of the Scottish League Cup Final on Sunday which brings the club their first chance to win silverware this season.
It will be Nancy and Ampadu’s third testing fixture in less than a week of what will definitely be a baptism of fire.
What Wilfried Nancy has said about Celtic’s Irish coach Kwame Ampadu
Ampadu will certainly know what it takes to be a Celtic coach having grown up supporting the Hoops.
His colleague Nancy explained in the lead into the Hearts clash how the Hoops were “his club” and what it was exactly the 54-year-old would bring to Glasgow.
“I told the board that if Kwame doesn’t come, I will not come!” the boss laughed. “No, I’m joking.
“Kwame is my friend. He’s my guy. He’s the oldest guy in the staff. And obviously, the background that he has is really important. He knows the culture.
“He was so emotional when I told him that we have the possibility to come here, because Celtic is his club too.
“So, this is a really nice story. Obviously, he knows also people within the club.
“And obviously, his experience is going to be massive. And that’s why he’s with me. And that’s why we want to assess and process everything.”
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