Deila tips Celtic to do six in a row
AN EMOTIONAL Ronny Deila signed off from Celtic yesterday by insisting that the Parkhead side will do six-in-a-row next season. The Norwegian’s two-year reign as boss ended with a thumping 7-0 humiliation of fifth-placed Motherwell. Kieran Tierney and Ryan Christie claimed
their first goals for the club while 16-year-old Jack Aitchison became the youngest Celtic goalscorer in history when he came off the bench to strike with his first touch.
Ending the season 15 points clear of second-placed Aberdeen in the Premiership, Deila believes his successor inherits the best squad of players in Scotland and has a solid base to beat the Dons, Rangers and Hearts to a sixth successive title next season.
‘Yes, I am sure,’ he insisted. ‘There is so much talent.
‘It is hard work and you have to be innovative all the time and be ahead of the development.
‘We are 15 points ahead after Aberdeen lost today and that gap is tough to close. I don’t think that will happen next year.’
Delivering a final ‘Ronny Roar’ with the Premiership trophy at his feet before the club’s Green Brigade supporters, Deila could hardly have wished for a more resounding send-off.
Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong, Mikael Lustig and Patrick Roberts scored Celtic’s other goals in a sun-baked rout.
‘To win 7-0 on a sunny day, with a great atmosphere, it was perfect,’ added Deila. ‘It was a dream.
‘It was a very good performance from a young team, who I believe are the future of this club. It was the perfect ending for me.
‘It was a very tough day. It’s hard to speak about it. I am grateful to have been here.
‘I have learned so much in two fantastic years.
‘I am just going to enjoy the new life now. There will be new opportunities but these two years will always be special to me.
‘It’s difficult to talk about my emotions. I am on a high.
‘But being a manager is a lifestyle. You are always working and trying to improve and be ahead of things.
‘It’s been like that for two years. Maybe in a week from now I will be a little down. I’ll probably sleep for three weeks.
‘Right now, it’s too much to take in.’
Deila steadied an unstable ship enough to coast over the line in the end.
The delivery of an emphatic display on the final day, however, did nothing to alter his conviction that it is the right time to go.
‘I think so,’ he continued. ‘I felt right after I did it. But after that, it is tough.
‘There have been ups and downs and you have to be honest to say that.
‘There have been things that were very good and some that were very bad.
‘I think what you saw today is something that can be built on.
‘With fresh energy coming in, I think we will go for more trophies and, hopefully, there are better results in Europe.
‘There are things I could have done better and things we could have done better together.’
The recipient of a standing ovation, Deila leaves Celtic with goodwill, telling supporters after the final whistle that the club will always ‘have a place in (my) heart’.
‘Football is emotion,’ he added later. ‘Football is about relations. Life is about relations.
‘You can talk about money, you can talk about a nice car, about a nice house. It has nothing to do with happiness. Happiness is about relations.
‘When you have people around you who support you and love you, then you can grow. It is so important for this team.
‘People understand that things have been up and down, but you can only do your best and be humble. Enough is enough.
‘It was tough. I don’t know if I did it perfect or not, but I did it my way. It will be a good memory anyway.’
Attention now turns to potential replacements, with Brendan Rodgers and David Moyes the favoured options of the Celtic board.
Asked if days like yesterday should convince uncertain candidates to commit, Deila added: ‘I don’t think many would say no to a job like this. This is an exclusive job and something that is a special thing.’
To win 7-0 on a sunny day was a dream. I am grateful to have been here