Deila: Bhoys can progress

RONNY DEILA insists the Celtic squad he is leaving behind is good enough to make the group stage of the Champions League. The curtain will come down on the Norwegian’s two-year tenure at Parkhead tomorrow when his team are presented with the Premiership trophy for a fifth successive season after their final league match with Motherwell. Although Celtic are on course to claim another flag by a double-figure margin, an inability to make tangible progress in Europe proved to be the biggest black mark on Deila’s copybook. A defeat to

Malmo in this year’s Champions League playoff was compounded by an inability to win any of the subsequent six Europa League matches. This has prompted former Celtic striker Chris Sutton to dismiss as ‘pie in the sky’ the notion that the current squad could take that elusive next step into the group stages of Europe’s blue-riband tournament. Deila, however, is adamant that the group he leaves behind have the wherewithal to succeed this summer where ultimately he failed. ‘Yes, I think this squad could get to the Champions League next year,’ he said. ‘You have to be ready and use the experience they have. The last two seasons we have been very close. ‘We will meet the same kind of opponents next time and Celtic should be good enough to beat them seven times out of 10.’ Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell hopes to name Deila’s successor within two weeks, with David Moyes, Roy Keane, Malky Mackay, Neil Lennon and Paul Lambert the leading candidates. Whoever is given the job, Deila says he would be happy to advise him on the strengths and weaknesses of the squad he is inheriting. ‘Of course, I would be happy to take a call from the new manager,’ he added. ‘If he wants that, then it is not a problem for me. ‘What would my advice be? I’ll leave that to the call.’ Despite announcing his decision to step down over three weeks ago, the ex-Stromsgodset manager admits he has mixed emotions about the prospect of walking back up the Parkhead tunnel for the final time. ‘It is difficult to explain,’ said the 40-year-old. ‘It is now a long time since I said I was going to leave, and now there are just a few days left. ‘It is good in one way, but in another way it is a little bit sad. ‘I think when I get some time off, and take time to reflect, I will feel very proud of my two years here.’