Celtic ready to take that last step on tightrope and reach their £16m prize
FOR Celtic and Ronny Deila, the overwhelming emotion after beating Qarabag FK was not elation or even joy. It was relief.
The risks and dangers had been clear to all. With £16million and the prestige of calling themselves a Champions League club on the line, it required a disciplined, unspectacular performance to earn a 0-0 draw in Baku. They got the job done.
Evidence of the tightrope walked by some of Europe’s biggest clubs in these qualifiers was not hard to find.
Less than 24 hours earlier Ajax, four-time champions of Europe, crashed out to Rapid Vienna. Ronald de Boer was placed under immediate scrutiny in the aftermath. For Celtic, defeat to the champions of Azerbaijan would have triggered a fallout of even greater proportions. The competition now defines their season.
Today’s play-off round draw will bring further stress and pressure, whoever the opponent. Deila’s team could be sent to another farflung location. Malmo of Sweden — coached by Deila’s countryman Age Hareide and featuring one Jo Inge Berget — would be attractive for logistical and footballing reasons.
Less is known about Skenderbeu Korce of Albania or Kazakhstan’s Astana. But, as Ajax proved, a continental r eputation i s no guarantee of progress against lesser lights.
Large clubs in smaller nations, Celtic and Ajax are l i ke old aristocrats with a grand history, trying to compete against brash
nouveau riche neighbours. Qarabag pay some of their Brazilian imports more than £30,000 a week. There are clubs from new oil nations like Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan with budgets Scotland’s champions can only dream of.
‘We have to stop people thinking it is easy to beat these teams,’ said Deila after Wednesday’s goalless draw. ‘Qarabag have a lot of money. Look at the city of Baku.
‘It’s a modern city and the club is hungry. There were 30,000 fans in the stadium, who really wanted it, so there are no easy games.
‘With national teams, you can maybe talk about some l ower standards. But one club in each country can be like Celtic — and Qarabag have money.’
The margin of success was thin. Qarabag threatened less than expected, but it still needed a fine Craig Gordon save to prevent a more uncomfortable night on a wispy, unwatered pitch. Thereafter Deila’s side showed composure and some fine individual performances.
The t eam which overcame Stjarnan and Qarabag bore little resemblance to the haphazard, chaotic line-ups of Warsaw and Maribor 12 months ago.
Scott Brown is now fit. Stuart Armstrong and Stefan Johansen showed relentless levels of energy and Nir Bitton — a pre-match injury doubt — had a fine game.
Virgil van Dijk and Dedryck Boyata complemented each other well and even Emilio Izaguirre looked more like himself.
‘Emilio was very good and Mikael (Lustig) is getting better with every game he has back,’ Deila said. ‘But everyone played well off the ball.
‘The two central defenders we have at the moment are top, top level. We are keeping clean sheets and that is saying everything.
‘Boyata is there now. Everyone understands how good he is.
‘Nir was struggling with his ankle in the lead-up to the game. He was playing with pain, but had an extra level. He has a really promising future.’
Individually and collectively, Celtic are stronger, mentally and physically, than they were a year ago.
‘This win over Qarabag has given us all confidence and belief,’ said Deila. ‘Now we are so close and we want to be even better in the next two games.’
Deila has spoken at length about how he wants Celtic to play attractive, entertaining football. But there was no place for that in Azerbaijan. Wednesday was a night for winning ugly. Pragmatism was placed before principles.
‘Qarabag were a good, passing team and the pitch over there was not good,’ said the Norwegian. ‘The pressure in these qualification matches is so high.
‘It’s important to defend well first then take our chances when we get them, especially away from home.
‘At home, I still think we try to play the same way.
It is Deila’s view that none of the teams Celtic could face in the play-off round will be better than Qarabag. It is doubtful any will be as toothless in front of goal.
Yet, whoever comes out of the pot today, the former Stromsgodset coach is clear.
Taking Celtic to the Champions League would surpass anything he has done in football so far. Even winning the Norwegian title with a team of rank outsiders.
‘It would eclipse what any one of us has done,’ he argued.
There is work to be done yet, of course. Deila’s position as Celtic manager is growing stronger with every victory, but he is not out of the woods yet.
Failure in the play-off round could still have damaging consequences for his credibility and reputation, and the project being laid down.
Deila has made f ar- reaching changes to the club’s backroom, fitness and medical staff and makes a compelling case for sticking at it.
Only by doing so, he believes, can Celtic improve their odds of being consistent Champions League qualifiers year after year.
‘I think we have improved as a club,’ he said. ‘The team, the staff, everybody, which means I hope I am getting better as well.’
The proof of improvement will only be confirmed if Celtic come through the play-off round.
As Deila admitted, they can think of themselves as a Champions League club but can only call themselves one if they play there.
‘We can talk about Champions League, but we have to get in there to really see what it is,’ he said.