Celtic

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Head coach Robin van Persie says Feyenoord's Europa League meeting with Celtic is "in honour" of his mentor Wim Jansen, who enjoyed success with both clubs.

"Icon" Jansen came through the Feyenoord youth ranks and helped them beat Celtic in the 1970 European Cup final before captaining the club to Uefa Cup glory.

As manager he steered Feyenoord to two Dutch Cups and served as technical director, then spent a brief but memorable spell in charge of Celtic, winning the league in 1998 in his sole season to ruin Rangers' bid for 10 in a row.

Jansen died in January 2022 at the age of 75.

"Wim has been an icon for Dutch and Scottish football because of that year he had with Celtic," said former Man United and Arsenal striker Van Persie.

"In this way, I feel we are playing a game which, in my opinion, is actually in honour of Wim Jansen.

"I used to play in the youth team at Feyenoord academy. The first thing I would always do, when I came on to the pitch, was look over to the corner flag on the left side of the clubhouse. That corner was always where Wim was. I always wanted to make sure he was there.

"Why? Because I only wanted to impress one person and that was Wim. If I knew he was at the corner flag then he would be watching. And he was always at all of my games. Wim was the man who triggered me often.

"He once said to me, when I was a very young player, that he wanted to see in the first five minutes of a game that I was the best of all the players on the pitch. He said 'that is what you have to show'. That was one of those small details when he triggered me.

"I have so many memories to think back on with massive pleasure. Wim was such a big football man."

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator in Rotterdam

Interim manager Martin O'Neill has been speaking to the media on the eve of Celtic's crucial Europa League match away to Feyenoord on Thursday.

Here are the key points from the new conference:

• He started by stating there is no update with regards a new manager being appointed.

• O'Neill acknowledged his interim spell in charge is coming to an end with Celtic expected to announce Wilfried Nancy as permanent boss.

• He says he would rather have had a European send-off at Celtic Park.

• He is anticipating a "difficult" match despite Feyenoord's recent struggles and says Celtic go into the game with confidence despite not playing "particularly brilliantly" in the last-gasp win at St Mirren last weekend.

• O'Neill praised Feyenoord as a club and the historical connection between the sides, remembering the 1970 European Cup final in which Jock Stein's favourites lost to the Dutch three years on from victory in Lisbon.

• He adds: "The 1970 European Cup final was a massive disappointment for us. We'd beaten Leeds United in the semi finals and we were expected to win and Feyenoord come up and win the game, so it does have history attached to it."

• Kelechi Iheanacho, who has missed the past six matches through injury, is back in contention but this game may be too soon for the striker. Left-back Marcelo Saracchi has also returned to training after injury.

• O'Neill lamented the number of players unavailable to him during his short stint in charge: "If the players could stay injury-free then that would be great. We haven't had the use of a number of quality players. You're looking for fit people, we will see.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator in Rotterdam

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Former Celtic and Feyenoord forward Regi Blinker admits Thursday's Europa League clash in Rotterdam is huge for his old clubs.

Both sides are in a fight to reach the next round at the midway stage of the league phase, with the Scottish champions a point better off than the Dutch prior to the match at De Kuip.

"It's a very big game, especially when you see that both teams have their own problems and their own situations," Blinker told BBC Scotland.

"For Celtic, they haven't won a lot of away games in Europe and Feyenoord now have lost three games in a row and also against opponents they should have beaten.

"It's a very important one because I think even in the media they are saying Feyenoord might be in a very small crisis and van Persie doesn't want to hear that at all.

"But I think Robin is the right person at the right place, there's quite a lot of injuries at Feyenoord. This is an important game for both teams because they both need that win."

Blinker, who spent three years at Celtic between 1997 and 2000, believes it'll be important that the visiting players handle the atmosphere.

"This is a difficult one for every team that comes to Rotterdam," he said.

"You're playing against 12 men, the audience are the 12th man here. But the Celtic players should be used to a loud crowd.

"But here, the influence of the crowd is there and you can feel it, the players are motivated by it. But if it's not going so well, you can feel that too. For Celtic it will be an extra hurdle.

"Celtic will also have to watch for Feyenoord's attacking players.

"It's great to have Celtic here in Rotterdam and obviously I am going to be there. It'll be a very exciting game, especially with the pressure on it.

"I think the two teams are quite level to each other."

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Irish striker Johnny Kenny says Celtic will take motivation from being "written off" prior to their Europa League tie away to Feyenoord.

The Scottish champions currently sit 27th place in the Europa League table, outside the qualifying places, with four points from four games.

"One hundred per cent, we believe [we can still qualify]," Kenny said. "I think the more motivation is when you're written off and people think you've no chance.

"There are times you have the extra fire in your belly to go and perform and get results."

The 22-year-old returned to Celtic in high spirits last week after making his Republic of Ireland debut in the stunning 3-2 win away to Hungary that secured a World Cup play-off semi-final against Czech Republic.

"It was a surreal experience, obviously," he said. "Growing up, you want to play for your country and obviously it was great to play in such a high magnitude game.

"We were written off before we went into it and obviously to score with the last kick of the ball was special.

"We spoke about all week about bringing the nation together and I think we've done that and obviously it was the same with Scotland. The whole nation is together now and we hope to do that in March."

Kenny has become Celtic's main striker with injuries and a lack of summer signings paving the way for his chance.

He was on hot form before the international break, scoring four in four games, and is determined to keep delivering.

"The last few goals now are gone, I just need to kick on and score more," he said.

"Good or bad performance, you need to move on because we have games every three days for maybe three months now so you have no time to dwell on anything.

"Even here, probably the start of October, I was struggling to make squads and then one injury and you're in. I've been playing ever since. Even with Ireland, we were written off.

"In football, no matter where you are, it can change in a flash. You just always need to be ready for when your chance comes. You need to put your two hands on it and take it."

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• This is the third European campaign in which Feyenoord and Celtic meet - the Dutch side won 2-1 in the 1970 European Cup final in Milan, while both sides enjoyed home wins in the 2023-24 Champions League group stage (2-0 Feyenoord, 2-1 Celtic).

• In all European competition, Celtic are winless in their past five visits to the Netherlands (D1 L4) since a 3-1 win at Ajax in August 2001 in a Champions League qualifier.

• Feyenoord have failed to score in three of their four Europa League matches this season. Only in 1991-92 (Cup Winners' Cup), 2008-09 (Uefa Cup) and 2020-21 (Europa League) have they had four goalless games in a single major European campaign.

• Celtic have kept just one clean sheet in their past 22 Europa League matches - they have conceded at least twice in 15 of their past 19 games in the competition.

• Celtic have netted just one goal from open play in the Europa League this season, with their past three goals coming via set-pieces (2x corners, 1x penalty). Only Red Star Belgrade and FC Utrecht have scored fewer (0).

Interim manager Martin O'Neill advises expected successor Wilfried Nancy to stay out of the civil war at Celtic. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

The published results from Celtic's annual meeting last week, which ended early amid shareholder unrest, show motions to reappoint the club's board members passed overwhelmingly. (London Stock Exchange via Sun, external)

Resolutions calling for a five-year review and a vote of no confidence in the board were not carried. (Glasgow Times), external

Feyenoord head coach Robin van Persie is battling to save his job as the Dutch side prepare to face Celtic in the Europa League, says Pierre van Hooijdonk, who turned out for both clubs. (Herald - subscription required), external

Vasteras SK want former Celtic defender Mikael Lustig as their new sporting director. (Espressen via Sun, external)

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Tino
Fan writer

I'm clinging to the faint hope the internet has been down in Columbus, Ohio for the past three to four months and that somehow Wilfried Nancy has no idea of the storm he's about to walk into.

From any angle you choose, Celtic are a club in turmoil: a state of flux, uncertainty, and arguably the most tumultuous spell of our modern era.

On that basis alone - before we even get to his football credentials - you'd hope the 48-year-old is cut from stern enough cloth to shoulder the expectation that comes with the top job at Celtic Park.

Thankfully, all signs suggest he is.

Like most of us, I knew next to nothing about the Frenchman a couple of weeks ago. But since then I've read the articles, watched the videos, sifted through the quotes, and just about everything paints the soon-to-be former Columbus Crew head coach in glowing terms.

Yes, translating his Stateside success to Celtic will be the biggest test of his relative short managerial career to date, but nothing about him suggests he'll shy away from it.

If anything, he sounds like a man who'll relish the challenge.

With Celtic now in advanced talks with Nancy, its just a matter of time before he touches down in Glasgow and several outlets are reporting a start date of Monday, 1 December.

That, in itself, feels like one of modern football's stranger quirks - allowing an incoming manager to begin his tenure before a more favourable fixture (say, Dundee at home) rather than diving straight into Rotterdam followed by Easter Road.

I suppose it makes sense. But I can't say I'm a fan.

If he's the right man, get him in ASAP. Let him roll up his sleeves and get to work before what is a relentless run of fixtures between now and the New Year.

Encouragingly, Nancy looks set to bring several key backroom staff members with him - long-time assistant Kwame Ampadu and analyst Max Chalier among them - which should help him put his own stamp on a squad currently short of what's required.

And if Nancy can pick up where Martin O'Neill has left off domestically, throw in a decent Europa League result against Roma, and retain the League Cup in his opening weeks, it might just give him the momentum needed heading into what absolutely must be a busy January window.

If the powers that be believe Nancy is the man to take this club forward, then it's time to stop playing games, back him properly, and let's see where this journey takes us.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

We asked for your views on the expected appointment of Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy as Celtic manager.

Here's what some of you said:

Pete: Stability is now the key and let's hope he can unite the club. Wasn't in any of the fans' thinking as an option but highlights the market in which we now operate. Let's all get behind him.

Peter: We took a chance on Ange Postecoglou, so maybe it's second time lucky. Fat chance.

Dom: I'm all for trying something new, but it's a big risk. He's unproven in Europe and he has little experience at this level. We've all seen how it went wrong in the past for many Scottish teams that appointed leftfield, unproven managers. Let's hope he's not another in the list.

Mark: Underwhelming and frankly disappointing. I expect no less from the clueless board who seem to be doing their best to sabotage the whole season to spite the support. Shambles is what it is.

Kev: Risky appointment. But I'll back him. Just hope the board do. Major work needed on the squad.

James: If Nancy is the favoured option, let's get him in with his staff as soon as possible. Not many fans were looking forward to the appointment of big Ange and he proved so many wrong. Let's get behind the new man and unite everyone associated with the club.

Ben F: A massive gamble for Celtic, especially in light of the recent tensions with the board. This could be a masterstroke Ange appointment or a dreadful Russell Martin one. It's Russian roulette and the it's the board's finger on the trigger. If they don't get this right, and have a decent January window, I really fear for us as a Celtic fan.

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Captain Callum McGregor is trying to protect team-mates from the "outside noise" of off-field turmoil amid a challenging period of "negativity, change and disruption" at Celtic.

The Scottish champions are going through a transitional phase on the pitch and major strife off it, although some certainty is set to come with the expected appointment of Columbus Crew's Wilfried Nancy as head coach.

Celtic, under interim boss Martin O'Neill, came close to dropping points for the fifth time in 12 Premiership games on Saturday but McGregor crashed in a brilliant 95th-minute winner to narrow the gap on Hearts to four points with a game in hand.

However, off-field rancour remains. Celtic fans have campaigned for boardroom change following slow summer transfer business and Champions League qualification failure, and an abandoned annual general meeting highlighted the depth of disagreements.

"We just need to keep going," said McGregor. "There's been a lot of negativity, change, and disruption. This club is better when everyone is together.

"Our job on the pitch is to win games of football and give the supporters a team they can be proud of.

"There are difficult moments in football. Every club goes through it. Let's not shy away from it, it's a difficult period. You have to really dig in.

"Of course you want to be flying, winning 4-0 or 5-0 every week, but it doesn't just happen like that. It's modern-day football.

"The club has been successful over a long period of time. Yes, we made mistakes, we didn't quite perform at the level to get into the Champions League. That was a big blow for everyone. The players feel it, the supporters feel it, the club feels it.

"Since then it's been a bit of an uphill battle. But we are still competing on all fronts and come the end of the season, can we make sure with all the adversity we can still have had a good season?

"That's my message to the players, the supporters, to everybody inside the club. It's step by step, just keep chipping away, because eventually it will turn for you.

"If that can be the catalyst to bring everything together then that would be great."

McGregor is doing his best to ensure the off-field negativity does not affect the squad.

"It's probably a little bit easier for the players," the 32-year-old said.

"We live in our own wee bubble anyway in terms of preparing for games. We're trying to protect that as much as we can, saying to players not to listen too much to the outside noise.

"Of course some of it filters in a little bit. But the only thing we can affect is winning games of football and if we can do that, hopefully that will realign the supporters, the team, the club, everyone moving forward.

"Because Celtic is a much stronger entity when everyone is pushing in the same direction."

Wilfried Nancy will target the January signing of 26-year-old Palestine striker Wessam Abou Ali from Columbus Crew should the Frenchman move to Celtic as manager from the Major League Soccer club in the coming days. (Scottish Sun), external

Should Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy be confirmed as Celtic manager, he will bring with him fellow Frenchman Yoann Dammet and Irishman Kwame Ampadu, who coached Exeter City Under-18s when Celtic's head of football operations Paul Tisdale was manager. (The Herald), external

After a week of negotiations over compensation, Wilfried Nancy is poised to become Celtic manager and bring with him coach Kwame Ampadu, first-team analyst Max Chalier and fitness chief Jules Gueguen, but Yoann Damet could be in the running to take over as Columbus Crew head coach. (Daily Record), external

Wilfried Nancy will bring with him a coach familiar with Celtic and Scottish football as part of his backroom team as the Columbus Crew head coach comes closer to becoming the Glasgow club's new manager. (Sky Sports), external

Brendan Rodgers, a free agent since leaving Celtic, heads Leeds United's manager shortlist, with Daniel Farke at serious risk of being sacked after the weekend defeat by Aston Villa. (TeamTalk), external

Marseille want to hold talks with Brighton & Hove Albion about signing on-loan former Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley permanently in January. (Sky Sports), external

Midfielder Kyle Ure has returned to Celtic from loan side Ayr United after the 19-year-old picked up a bad injury, manager Scott Brown has confirmed. (The National), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Wilfried Nancy is close to becoming Celtic manager.

Let us know your thoughts on the possible appointment here.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

It was the late show again for Celtic as they managed to salvage three points against a tough St Mirren side in Paisley, and they've got one player in my team of the week.

A real shame Callum McGregor won't be on the plane to the USA come the summer. Blockbuster class and bucketfuls of leadership on display from the Celtic captain as his Paisley thunderbolt took three points out of the fire against St Mirren.

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse Callum McGregor's winning goal for Celtic against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership amid off the pitch troubles for the club.

Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy is set for a 1 December start as the new manager of Celtic, although it could be sooner depending on the completion of contracts for four members of his backroom staff who are expected to join him in Glasgow over the next seven days. (PLZ Soccer), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Watch all the highlights from Celtic's dramatic late win over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only

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We asked for your thoughts on Celtic's 1-0 victory over St Mirren on Saturday.

Here's what some of you said:

Joe: Whoever the next manager is has a monumental task ahead of them. The squad needs a complete overhaul. This won't be a quick fix. We were awful last night.

Peter: Dreadful performance from a dreadful team. We are so poor it defies belief. It tells you a lot about the standard of Scottish football at the moment. Would any quality manager wish to take on this situation? Would need to be mad.

Patrick: A really boring performance yesterday which might have been better if we had any squad depth. It's never been more clear that the toxic relationship between the fans and the board is hurting the players and club. Something has to give and if the fans can't communicate constructively then this will only continue.

Merky: The board are hurting the team, it's as simple as that. With lack of recruitment, lack of professionalism when trying to make signings, lack of communication and lastly lack of changes in key board decision-making positions when there have been failings year after year. Simply winning the league isn't enough, the team and club have to improve year after year and both have regressed.

Mick: Last gasp win. The board needs to stop apologising for the mistakes and give the supporters a commitment to improve the team in the January window. Nothing less will be acceptable or the dissent will continue.

James: St Mirren pushed us hard, the first half performance was dreadful all round. The game came much more to life in the second half but Celtic still looked a little off the pace. I would like to think that the off field issues aren't affecting the team but the realist in me knows it is.

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Celtic would be taking an "incredible risk" on Wilfried Nancy if they make the Columbus Crew their next manager, says Colin Miller, former Canada and Vancouver Whitecaps head coach. (Daily Record), external

Leeds United could join the race for Daizen Maeda if Celtic sanction a January sale for the Japan forward, with Everton, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers also linked with the 28-year-old. (Yorkshire Post), external

"The club needs to be united," says Celtic captain Callum McGregor as protests from fans against the board continued during yesterday's win at St Mirren. "It needs to be everyone together, pushing forward, it's been built on massive success and unity." (Sky Sports via Glasgow Times), external

Celtic left it very, very late to snatch victory in Paisley but interim boss Martin O'Neill continued his 100% league record thanks to a stoppage-time screamer from captain Callum McGregor.

Read the match report.

And let us know your thoughts on the game here.

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Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill tells BBC Scotland: "Very happy because we've won the game with a wonder strike from a very talented player.

"A lot of frustration too. We've won a game where perhaps a draw was a fair result. We didn't create enough, we didn't take care of the ball well enough, but I'm relieved we've won.

"The minute he got himself a little angle on the edge of the box, I thought 'he's going to score here'.

"We started to get behind them a little bit [in the second half] - Maeda's pace caused them a few problems.

"There's relief as much as anything else, but you enjoy winning football matches - that's what it's about. It keeps confidence alive as much as anything else and keeps momentum going.

"At this minute, I haven't heard anything more. I would reckon I would probably be on the plane for Rotterdam and maybe not much longer.

"If the board announce a new manager in the couple of days, I will walk into the sunset."