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By JOHN MCGARRY Published: 06: 00 AEDT, 13 January 2026 | Updated: 06: 44 AEDT, 13 January 2026 View comments For a long number of years now, the end of the working day for Celtic players has normally been a pleasurable experience. Making their way from the front door of the stadium to their cars, they’ve walked along a corridor flanked by fans of all ages seeking autographs and selfies. The shrieks of excitement as the stars emerge clutching their wash bags can leave the eardrums ringing. In times of plenty, it’s like Beatlemania has arrived on Kerrydale Street. The welcome from those who’d gathered following the capitulation to Rangers on January 3 was, predictably, not quite so warm. While the Celtic board and Wilfried Nancy bore the brunt of the anger that day, the scattergun was turned on the players too. From songs of praise to walking the gauntlet. An experience that no one present intends repeating at any point in their careers. Nygren and his Celtic team-mates leave the ground after their Old Firm defeat to Rangers The Old Firm defeat at Celtic Park proved to be Wilfried Nancy's last game in charge ‘It was, of course, something that I haven’t experienced before, ’ recalled Benjamin Nygren of a dark day in the club’s recent history. ‘But, in the end, I personally think that what makes football the biggest sport in the world is everyone that cares so much about the game. They have a love of the game and the love for the club they support. ‘Everyone has different reactions, and we know that we didn’t do well enough. That’s one reaction and you need to respect that and focus on winning games again. ’ Clearly the wrong man in the wrong movie, there was something unedifying about some of the abuse which was directed towards Nancy throughout his short spell in charge. Benjamin Nygren scores against Dundee United - his 11th goal of the season for Celtic Hired by the club’s hierarchy mid-season despite his preferred 3-4-3 system throwing up a red flag to most observers, culpability for the entire 33-day debacle primarily lay with those in the heated seats. Having recorded just two wins across eight games under the Frenchman’s watch, however, Nygren contends that those who fell short after crossing the while line could not be absolved from blame either. ‘It’s difficult to really put the finger on one thing, ’ the Swede offered. ‘I don’t think you can only blame one person at the end of the day. ‘It’s us players who need to perform on the pitch and we didn’t implement the way he wanted to play well enough. ‘That’s something that us as players need to take responsibility for. We respect him, but now the focus is to move forward. ’ The Swedish playmaker has had three different managers in his short spell at Celtic A season which began with Brendan Rodgers in charge and now sees Martin O’Neill back for a second interim spell has been the most tumultuous in living memory. Mostly creatures of habit, the squad have had to adjust to different styles and instructions then adjust again. ‘It’s been different, of course, ’ said Nygren. ‘It’s not how it normally is that you have so many different swaps within the coaching staff. But for me personally, I’ve had many coaches in my career and I’ve played many different styles and so on. ‘So, it’s not been that weird for me. I’ve tried to focus on doing as well as I can in the games and creating chances, scoring goals and making assists. That’s what I have to keep on doing. ’ Saturday’s victory against Dundee United, in which Nygren scored, went some way to pouring oil on troubled waters. Martin O'Neill led Celtic to a 4-0 win over Dundee United in his first game back in charge With the players clearly more comfortable after reverting to O’Neill’s preferred 4-3-3, they made short work of beating a side who fully capitalised on the chaos Nancy oversaw by winning against them at Tannadice before Christmas. It was, though, only the first step on the road to recovery. O’Neill’s side have a tricky trip to Falkirk on Wednesday, Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup at Rugby Park on Sunday then Bologna away in the Europa League. A hectic January concludes with a trip Tynecastle to tackle leaders Hearts then Utrecht at home. It feels like a defining period. ‘There’s still 17 games left in the league, so it’s a long way left and it’s in our own hands, ’ Nygren stressed. ‘Everyone here believes in the squad and everyone believes in all of the staff around us. We just need to start winning games again. ‘That’s how it is always in football, it moves so quickly and there’s so many games. Benjamin Nygren hopes to help Sweden qualify for the 2026 World Cup ‘Every game, to be honest, is important. We had so many games in December as well, the focus now is on the next game and the one after that. But we need to take one game at a time and we’re going to every game to win the game and that’s our focus. ’ It probably goes without saying that O’Neill could do with some help. Almost at the midway point of the transfer window and Julian Araujo, a right-back, is the only signing with Stephen Welsh’s recall from his loan spell at Motherwell at least providing an option in the middle of the defence. Sweden boss Graham Potter has been in touch to let Nygren know he is in his plans Incredibly, the dependable No9 that Celtic have required for a year now has still to come in the door. ‘Of course, it always is important to have a lot of quality within a squad, ’ said Nygren. In the middle of a trying period at club level, Nygren was happy to see the number of Graham Potter flash up on his phone. Now in charge of the Swedish national team, the Englishman placed a call to tell the Celtic man that he’s very much in his thoughts as the countdown begins for the World Cup play-off against Ukraine in March. The fervent hope of all concerned is that they can progress to a final against Poland or Albania to seal a place in this summer’s finals. ‘We’ve had a bit of contact and I think he’s a great guy, a great human being and then a great coach as well, ’ said Nygren. ‘Getting to the World Cup would be massive. I think as a player, to represent your country is such a big honour. ‘My biggest dream is to play in the World Cup for my country. That’s huge and I’m looking forward to those two games as well. ‘My plan is to be on the Swedish national team for the coming 10 years or so. ’

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