A week on from his debut against Hearts, the Scottish League Cup final then presented Nancy with the chance to secure silverware – and a much-needed first victory – so soon after arriving.
But so much chat in the build-up to the Hampden encounter with St Mirren was dominated by voices saying O’Neill should have been the man to guide Celtic through the biggest week of their season.
And those voices only got louder when the Paisley side lifted their first trophy in more than a decade in a 3-1 win.
Stephen Robinson’s men were well worth their triumph, while Celtic still looked disjointed at best.
For much of the first half, centre-back Liam Scales could be seen marauding up the left wing. Winger James Forrest ended the game playing central midfield.
There was no tactics board in view, but the sight of captain Callum McGregor being called over to the sideline to receive instructions on multiple occasions was.
Perhaps the most sobering element of the game was how in control St Mirren were in the second half of a game of such magnitude.
For Nancy, it was another significant blow, one so damaging that many fans had already written him off.
“I really believe we are going to click and move forward,” he said post match.
“We are a bit fragile at the moment but my job is to give them confidence
“I am happy to be here at this moment. I accept the challenge.”
