Watch the Celtic distress call from Joe Hart

Joe Hart gave a red flag warning to Celtic fans suffering through the Europa League capitulation against AS Roma.

It was grim viewing for fans watching on TNT SPORT, inside Celtic Park it seemed like barely 15,000 stuck around for the final whistle.

A year ago Hart provided a great insight into Celtic’s progress in the Champions League.

Fresh out of the dressing room he knew almost every player involved, his co-commentary was like that of a very informed fan.

CELTIC: NOW AND THEN

Roll the clock forward 12 months and there is little recognisable about Celtic other than Callum McGregor leading with the armband.

At a push you could say Yang Hyun-jun has improved on last season. Mainly because of the low bar that heset.

Hart played in a Celtic squad that had James Forrest, Liel Abada, Jota and Daizen Maeda as the options on the wings.

Changed days. And not just on the park. Celtic Park was heavily subdued throughout despite an apparent sell out crowd.

Wilfried Nancy walked into the storm. He has a brand of football that he believes in but after two matches the evidence suggests that Celtic are moving backwards.

Neither Hart, Stan Petrov or Johan Mjallby were brought up as Celtic fans. Their time in Glasgow is among the highlights of his career, especially European appearances.

Hart only managed one Champions League win over two seasons as a Celt but spoke passionately about the condition of his old club.

Hart said:

I don’t know about you boys, I didn’t walk in and just understand what it was to be Celtic. I need the people around me, I need to have conversations with the likes of you [Petrov], and I called you and said, Stan, and you went, go, go, go.

Why, Stan, why? Because it’s an amazing team to play for. And do you want to know why you’re going to love it? Because they expect you to win.

I know that’s what’s in you, and I know that’s what makes you tick. I don’t just like playing football, I like winning the football. And that’s why, if you look at my career, there’s a few places, yes, I did drift.

But when we had titles on the line and when we were pushing, that’s what ignited me, and that’s what needs to ignite Wilfrid Nancy. That’s what needs. He needs the people in the board, whoever’s appointed him, they need to be in his ear, not just tell him about tactics, tell him how important Sunday is.

If Nancy has to turn to Paul Tisdale and Michael Nicholson for inspiration then Celtic truly are in bother. Neither has any track record of success, feel for the club or the confidence to speak up.

CONSEQUENCES

Changing manager in mid-season is never easy. Nancy is the third manager that has instructed the Celtic players since the season started which adds to the problems.

After two more disastrous transfer windows and a serious run of injuries the odds are stacking up against Celtic’s first French manager.

Nancy accepted the job, his job is to manage what he has inherited with Sunday at Hampden pivotal to his reign.

After successive home draws the pressure is on against St Mirren. Promises of a golden future playing wonderful attacking football won’t be any consolation if the League Cup heads to Paisley on Sunday night.