Brad Friedel believes Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous spell at Celtic can be traced back to a fundamental misunderstanding of what is required to succeed at a club where results are paramount.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and United States goalkeeper reflected on Nancy’s brief tenure in Glasgow, which produced only two wins from eight matches in 33 days.
From early in his reign, the Frenchman faced criticism after indicating that performances were more important to him than results.
Speaking to talkSPORT via Glasgow Times, Friedel suggested that Nancy arrived in Scotland with a mindset shaped by his experiences in Major League Soccer, arguing that the environment at Celtic is vastly different from what he had become accustomed to in North America.
Using his own coaching career as an example, Friedel explained: “I came over here, and I was the head coach with the New England Revolution. I found it difficult to go from the professionalism of the Premier League to this way (the MLS).”
He went on to admit that adapting to the league proved difficult for him personally.
“I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I was too stubborn to stay in my own professionalism. I wouldn’t adapt to the level of MLS.
“I think what Wilfried did is that he adapted to the US culture. He went over there. When you go to a club like Celtic, and you hear his first interview. ‘I don’t care about the results. It’s how we play.’
“No. Results matter, and the fans will actually put up with you playing poorly if you are winning the matches for a certain amount of time.
“So, I think he found that change, going to that type of club, very, very difficult.”
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