The trainers are not a problem but the trainer has a problem to solve

Italian job gives poor Nancy another wake-up call

- DAVID MCCARTHY

IT'S not about the trainers.

But it's all about the trainer, coach, manager or whatever Wilfred Nancy chooses to call himself.

And just as Hearts did on Sunday, Roma turned Paradise into Purgatory for the new man at Celtic's helm.

Nancy had been slagged for wearing green trainers and social media has had a field day since the Frenchman brought out his pocket-sized tactics board during his Parkhead dugout debut.

It has been all 'Tic Talk on Tik Tok as Nancy's tactics and formation have been forensically and sometimes farcically picked apart. Last night, there was no debate to be had as Celtic suffered a Europa League battering.

Yes, it may be too early to know if the former Columbus Crew boss will sink or swim in the Glasgow goldfish bowl.

If it's the latter, he could wear flippers on the touchline while drawing tactics on an Etch-A-Sketch for all the Celtic fans would care.

But having lost his opener to Hearts, Nancy knew he could ill afford a repeat on this, his European debut.

He could barely have had a more difficult opener in Roma, who arrived in Glasgow for the second time this season, having already handed Danny Rohl a painful defeat in his first home continental clash at Rangers.

The Italians were good last month. They were even better last night.