WILFRED NANCY MADE HIMSELF A PERMANENT ENEMY OF ENTIRE RANGER FANS BASE OVER WHAT HE SAID WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE RIVALS

In Scottish football, rivalries are rarely quiet—and they are certainly never forgiving. But even in a league where tempers flare at the slightest spark, few could have predicted the storm that erupted the moment Wilfried Nancy, Celtic’s newly announced head coach, uttered a single response during a press briefing. A response so seemingly simple, yet so seismic in its consequences, that within minutes social media was ablaze, fan forums melted down, and pundits struggled to keep pace with the sheer magnitude of reaction across Glasgow.

To many neutrals, it may have sounded like an ordinary remark—nothing explosive, nothing insulting, nothing inherently controversial. Yet in the context of Scotland’s most emotionally-charged football rivalry, even the mildest phrase can ignite a wildfire. And for Rangers fans, what Nancy said wasn’t mild at all. It was, in their eyes, the ultimate provocation. A declaration that placed him firmly on the wrong side of Glasgow before he had even managed a single competitive match for Celtic.

To Celtic supporters, it was bold, charismatic, and the perfect tone-setter for a new managerial era.

To Rangers supporters, it was disrespectful, dismissive, and completely unforgivable.

And just like that, Wilfried Nancy became, in the eyes of many Rangers fans, a permanent enemy.

But what exactly happened? Why did this particular response send shockwaves through the Scottish football community? And why have Rangers fans vowed never to forget it?

Let’s break down the full story behind the moment that has already become one of the most talked-about quotes in recent Old Firm history.

THE BUILD-UP: CELTIC’S NEW ERA AND THE QUESTION EVERYONE EXPECTED

When Celtic confirmed Wilfried Nancy as their new head coach, excitement surged through the green-and-white half of the city. His impressive tactical reputation, his player-development record, and his reputation for bold, modern football made him an appealing choice for a club looking to refresh its identity.

The media were eager. The supporters were buzzing. The cameras were rolling.

Every new Celtic manager, from the most soft-spoken to the most fiery, knows that one question is never avoided, never overlooked, and never delayed:

“What are your thoughts on Rangers?”

It happens every time.

It always will.

But it wasn’t the question that caused all the carnage.

It was the answer.

NANCY’S ANSWER: THE QUOTE THAT BLEW UP GLASGOW

Depending on which broadcast you watched, which account you follow, or which clip you clicked on, the phrasing varied slightly—but the message remained the same.

When asked about Rangers, their rivalry, and how he viewed the challenge ahead, Nancy replied with a coolness that stunned the room:

“I don’t focus on them. Celtic is the only giant I’m here to build.”

Some versions of the clip include the second half of his comment:

“History speaks for itself. We know who leads and who follows.”

To Celtic fans, it was a statement of confidence, pride, and ambition.

To Rangers fans, it was an attack. A disrespectful swipe. A suggestion that Rangers are an afterthought, a lesser club, and a follower rather than a leader.

That was all it took.

Within minutes, the quote had been clipped, reposted, edited, meme-ified, and shared across every corner of Scottish football media. Rangers supporters flooded platforms with fury, disbelief, and unified condemnation.

What Nancy likely viewed as a motivational statement for his own club was instantly received as a major insult by their greatest rivals.

THE RANGER FAN REACTION: “THIS IS WAR NOW”

Rangers supporters are no strangers to heated back-and-forth with Celtic figures. They have seen bold managers. They have endured fiery players. They have been on the receiving end of digs, jabs, chants, and celebrations.

But this?

This was different—at least according to their reaction.

Comments spread fast:

• “He’s written himself into our history books already—for the wrong reasons.”
• “Celtic haven’t kicked a ball under him yet and he’s already disrespecting the entire club.”
• “If he thinks he’s walking into a friendly league, he’s in for a shock.”
• “He’s a permanent enemy now. No coming back from that one.”
• “This guy hasn’t earned the right to talk about Rangers.”

Fan forums exploded.

Watch-along channels replayed the clip on loop.

Phone-in shows were overwhelmed by furious callers.

And, unsurprisingly, the reaction inside Ibrox circles was swift and unforgiving.

WHY THIS HIT SO HARD: THE EMOTIONAL WEIGHT OF THE OLD FIRM

To fully understand the explosion, you have to understand the psychology of the Old Firm rivalry.

This is not Spain’s El Clásico.

This is not Italy’s Derby d’Italia.

This is not England’s North London Derby.

This rivalry is historical, cultural, emotional, and deeply woven into Glasgow’s identity. Generations grow up with these colours. Every comment is magnified. Every sentence is scrutinised. Every slogan becomes a battle cry.

So when a brand-new Celtic manager appears to imply—intentionally or not—that Rangers are insignificant, followers, or beneath Celtic, the emotional reaction isn’t surprising.

In a rivalry where neither club ever wants to give an inch, the idea of a manager brushing their rivals aside is viewed as downright incendiary.

And it didn’t help that Nancy said it before:

• coaching a game,
• winning a match,
• lifting a trophy,
• or even learning the full landscape of Scottish football.

In the eyes of Rangers fans, he came in cocky.

In the eyes of Celtic fans, he came in confident.

In the eyes of neutrals, he came in with conviction.

But in the eyes of the Rangers fanbase, he came in disrespectfully.

THE MEDIA AMPLIFICATION: FROM QUOTE TO BOMBSHELL

Football outrage spreads fast—but outrage during an Old Firm week spreads instantly.

Within hours:

• Scottish pundits debated the quote on every network.
• Former Rangers players weighed in, calling it “unnecessary” and “provocative.”
• Former Celtic players defended him, calling it “standard mindset” and “a winning mentality.”

Some journalists argued he was simply motivating his own team.

Others argued he intentionally fired the first shot.

Some viewed it as naïve; others as calculated.

But almost nobody viewed it as neutral.

And as the coverage intensified, Rangers fans grew even more certain that Nancy had crossed a line from which he could never return.

CELTIC FANS’ REACTION: “THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE WANTED HIM”

While the blue side of Glasgow erupted with anger, the green-and-white side celebrated the moment.

To Celtic supporters, this was the exact type of authority, pride, and unapologetic self-belief they wanted from their new manager.

Comments on Celtic pages were glowing:

• “That’s our manager.”
• “He gets the rivalry already—and he hasn’t even managed a match.”
• “We needed someone with backbone.”
• “This is the mentality shift we wanted.”

In their eyes, Nancy sent a message that Celtic are ready to reclaim dominance, impose their style, and dismiss distractions. Whether or not Rangers were genuinely being dismissed was irrelevant—Celtic fans loved the posture.

If Nancy’s goal was to win over Celtic supporters instantly, he absolutely succeeded.

THE FUTURE: PRESSURE, PASSION, AND A RIVALRY REIGNITED

Now the big question:

What happens next?

Because one thing is clear—Nancy has placed enormous pressure on himself, whether intentionally or accidentally. His words will be replayed every time Celtic struggle. They will be taunted back at him every time Rangers win. They will become ammunition in every press conference, every derby, every buildup.

For Rangers fans, the statement is unforgettable.

For Celtic fans, it is unforgettable for a very different reason.

But for the rivalry itself?

It is fuel—pure, explosive fuel.

The Scottish Premiership just got hotter.

The Old Firm just got more personal.

And Wilfried Nancy, barely days into his new job, has already established himself as one of the most talked-about figures in Scottish football.

Whether he intended it or not, he has stepped into Glasgow not quietly, not cautiously, but boldly.

And in doing so, he has made himself—at least to the Rangers fanbase—

a permanent enemy.