Wilfried Nancy still hasn’t had a chance to catch his breath in Glasgow. The French coach arrived at Celtic surrounded by expectation, but the initial impact was harsh and immediate. In just two matches in charge, he’s suffered back-to-back defeats that have already put his work under heavy scrutiny. A loss to Hearts in a head-to-head clash for the Scottish Premiership lead was followed by a 3–0 defeat to Roma in the Europa League, creating an uncomfortable setting and ramping up the pressure. Now, the Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren at Hampden Park stops being just a decision match and turns into a test of sporting survival at the very start of this new cycle.
Moving from MLS to Scottish soccer rarely allows for a long adjustment period, especially at a club the size of Celtic. The logic is simple and unforgiving, a bad result turns into noise, and noise turns into pressure. Nancy felt that right away and knows that lifting the first trophy of the season could work as a handbrake in an environment that’s already becoming far too tense for someone who’s just arrived.
The final against St Mirren comes exactly at that point of inflection. It’s no exaggeration to say the outcome will influence the tone of the rest of the season. A title brings a minimum level of calm, buys time, and helps stabilize the atmosphere. A defeat deepens the discomfort and makes the opening stretch look even more misguided.
Iheanacho and the need for practical change
Among the possible adjustments, one stands out because of timing and context. Kelechi Iheanacho emerges as a strong candidate to start the final. The forward missed much of the past two months due to a thigh injury, but returned to action against Roma and left a very positive impression despite the adverse circumstances, as noted by the Daily Record.
Iheanacho’s involvement wasn’t defined only by numbers. There was willingness, physical battles, commitment in 50-50 balls, and a constant effort to engage teammates. At 29, he offered something Celtic had been missing in recent outings, attacking presence with intensity. Even after wasting a clear chance and having limited touches inside the box, he won key duels and had a goal ruled out.
A final that goes beyond the scoreline
To beat St Mirren, Celtic will need to show more than organization. Grit, competitiveness, and attitude will be decisive. And that’s exactly where the choice to start Iheanacho takes on symbolic weight.
The Premier Sports Cup represents the first real chance at silverware this season and, at this specific moment, it carries more value than the trophy itself. It can reshape how Wilfried Nancy is perceived and ease pressure that arrived far too early. Otherwise, the French coach will keep working under an atmosphere that doesn’t tend to forgive hesitation.
Celtic head into the match under pressure, and that’s no secret. The difference lies in how the team responds to it. Nancy is still searching for his identity at the club, but the final offers a chance to reset the narrative. And based on what’s been seen recently, Iheanacho could be a key piece in that attempt to turn the page before this difficult start grows into something bigger.