WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
DEILA: McInnes should call me if he doesn’t like anything Collins says
RONNY DEILA has told Derek McInnes to call him if he has an issue with anything John Collins has said.
The Aberdeen manager hit out at the Parkhead assistant f or dismissing the challenge Celtic players f aced domestically. McInnes branded Collins ‘disrespectful to the rest of the league’ after the latter claimed footballers in Scottish teams were ‘not clever enough players or quick enough thinkers to punish us when we become detached from one another’.
Deila yesterday waded into the developing row by claiming that no one would have had any issue with Collins’ comments had they been made behind closed doors.
And the Celtic manager told Dons boss McInnes that he will gladly take his call if he is put out by anything his deputy has said over the past three days.
‘He should call me if he is angry about it,’ Deila stated. ‘What I can say is that if anyone calls John Collins disrespectful, then they don’t know John Collins. He is
the most respectful guy I ever met in my life. His values are unbelievable. ‘You have to be honest and tell it how it is to the fans and everyone else. ‘That’s what newspapers are all about, to give information to the people. ‘If it is hard to say that it is harder to play in the Champions League and that you get punished more there than you do in the Scottish league, then McInnes can be as angry as he wants for me. Because that is just stupid. ‘It is a truth he said himself about the team from Croatia (Rijeka). ‘He can call me if it’s a problem. It’s very nice to talk with him any time.’ Deila’s side reclaimed their place at the top of the Premiership with a 2-0 win over Partick Thistle on Sunday. Skipper Scott Brown sat out the victory together with James Forrest and Charlie Mulgrew, and Stuart Armstrong joined them on the sidelines after being withdrawn with tightness in his muscles early on. Deila believes all could make the league trip to Kilmarnock tomorrow if required — but with Malmo due in town on Champions League business next week, the Norwegian won’t rush anyone back into his side. ‘Everyone is available for Wednesday but maybe we will rest some players and play them on Saturday. ‘We will make the right decision to get the best out of everyone in the games coming up. ‘Charlie Mulgrew is ready. Scott Brown is maybe there, but we will maybe wait. ‘James Forrest is ready. Stuart Armstrong might miss Wednesday but will definitely be ready for Saturday. ‘Broony is saying he needs a break. He has a lot of experience and knows his body really well. So he has good control of it. ‘He is tight in his hamstring and we won’t take any chances.’