Wilfried Nancy has opened up about his brief 33-day stint as Celtic manager, calling it a "beautiful experience" despite the challenges that ultimately cut his time short. The French tactician, who arrived at Celtic Park in December following Martin O'Neill's interim spell, admits the timing was far from ideal.

"When I went there, it was not a good moment," Nancy said on the Training Ground Guru podcast. "I knew it could be difficult regarding the schedule and injuries, so that's why I put everything into perspective. Obviously, I didn't have enough time to do things the way I do things."

Nancy's reign was a rollercoaster of just eight games, with only two wins—against bottom-six sides Aberdeen and Livingston. The low points included a League Cup final defeat to St Mirren, losses to Rangers, Hearts, Dundee United, Motherwell, and a Europa League home defeat to Roma. He was ultimately sacked after a 3-1 loss to Rangers, with O'Neill returning to steady the ship.

Despite the rocky record, Nancy sees the silver lining. "It was a beautiful experience. I do my job with passion, and I look for players with passion. This club, the fans, the city—it's been amazing for that. Obviously, things could have been better, but life is about moments."

The 49-year-old, now back in the United States where he previously found success with MLS side Columbus Crew, believes a longer leash could have made a difference. "That's why they hired me," he said, suggesting his methods needed more time to take root. Some players struggled to adapt to his style, he noted, but he holds no grudges.

Since Nancy's departure, O'Neill has guided Celtic to the brink of another Premiership title and a Scottish Cup final. But for Nancy, those 33 days remain a chapter of what might have been—a brief, intense spell in one of football's most passionate environments.