DEILA’S ON CALL
From Back Page to offer any assistance to the Parkhead chief as he plots the downfall of his countrymen.
Rodgers is already planning for the shootout against the Norwegians, who scrambled past Irish outfit Dundalk in the previous round as the Scottish champions hammered Linfield.
But he’ll have to prepare without striker Leigh Griffiths who has been given a one-match ban by UEFA chiefs for provoking Linfield fans after tying a scarf around a Windsor Park goalpost.
Rodgers has plenty of info about Rosenborg at his disposal but suggested he might call his predecessor for additional knowledge as he prepares for both legs of the Champions League third-qualifying round clash over the next fortnight.
Deila has no issues with that and said: “Of course I will help Brendan is he asks me, that would be no problem.”
But Deila’s also sure Rodgers will have everything he needs to know in his files as Rosenborg won’t change their style for the Hoops.
He said: “I am sure Brendan and the team of coaches will have good control over Rosenborg and what they are going to do in the matches.
“Rosenborg do not play with many secrets. Brendan and his staff will be able to read what they do.
“They want to play their system and ask you if you can control it.
“They will look to cause problems to Celtic in that way and not by trying to be clever or changing their ways.
“You know how they are going to play week on week.”
Deila’s Valerenga side nabbed a 1-1 draw with Rosenborg earlier this summer and the ex-Celtic gaffer is sure his former club are in a good position to snare a spot in the play-off round.
He said: “Celtic are of course the favourites. They have a better team than Rosenborg who are not as strong as they have been in the last couple of years because they have lost some good players.
“The other players haven’t yet come into the system. There are still some good ones. Individuals such as Nicklas Bendtner and Mike Jensen are big players who can really wake up in this tie and perform in the bigger games like the ones against Celtic.
“The other factor is Rosenborg are in the middle of the league season and will be in good physical shape, compared with Celtic who have only had two competitive matches so far.”
Deila confessed he might go to Trondheim for the second leg and added: “I am not sure about the schedules but the flight is just 50 minutes from Oslo so I might go up and see the match in Norway.”