Celtic fans react as French side OGC Nice sack Patrick Vieira

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Europa League club OGC Nice have decided to sack Patrick Vieira after the French boss failed to prevent his side suffering five consecutive defeats – and Celtic supporters have reacted on Twitter, amid enormous pressure on Neil Lennon.

Vieira, 44, lasted 89 games in charge at Nice after joining the club from MLS side New York City. He ended his reign with a win rate of just below 40% with a Nice side that are normally pushing for European football in Ligue 1.

Despite Nice sitting in a decent 11th place, the board have decided to axe the Arsenal legend – after Thursday night’s 3-2 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen which saw the French side knockout out of the Europa League. Vieira is now without a club.

Celtic, meanwhile, have kept a hold of Lennon despite just two wins in their last 11 league and cup matches. Unlike Vieira and Nice, Lennon and Celtic went into Thursday’s Europa League game having already been knocked out of the competition.

It is a contrast of styles. Celtic are clearly keen to give Lennon every chance to get back on track with the Hoops while Nice have been ruthless – axing Vieira after a run of five poor results. It is hard to see how Lennon will get his side back to their best.

The overriding feeling is that Lennon has been harshly treated. Many of his Celtic players are not putting in 100% effort, the board have been criticised for their summer transfers, while the Hoops are still in with a good chance of securing 10 in a row.

Winning their games in hand and the next Old Firm clash, Celtic would be just two points behind Rangers. Yes, it is better to have points on the board, but the table reads a lot worse than it actually is.

Celtic have been far worse in Europe than Rangers. But having been knocked out they can now concentrate on the league, whereas Steven Gerrard and the Gers may have to do a lot of travelling in the crucial period after Christmas.

The buck stops with the manager, though. Even if, on paper, Lennon is being harshly treated – he is the one that must be fired to change the feeling around the club. The board and the players could be to blame, but it will be Lennon’s head on the block.

So, even if Lennon deserves more time – Celtic’s board may feel that they need to change the manager, with time hardly on their side. 10 in a row has become a crucial objective and a change could be required now to save that pursuit.

The majority of Celtic fans agree. Although the loss to AC Milan has hardly added pressure on Lennon, the defeat to Ross County was embarrassing. Many want a replacement, and now Vieira is out of work – perhaps he could be in the frame.

Celtic fans reacted in two ways. Some want Vieira at the club – a vibrant young manager at 44 with an enormous reputation, pulling power and plenty of tactical nous. While others want their club to mirror Nice’s ruthlessness, and axe Lennon just as Nice have done.

Some Celtic fans urging their club to consider Vieira:

https://twitter.com/ParkheadWolfe/status/1334831292446371843

Other Celtic fans want their club to follow Nice’s path:

https://twitter.com/colgiebhoy/status/1334826286330605568

https://twitter.com/cotterboy7/status/1334832204153843715