The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Deila claims Hoops will only be getting better
CELTIC: Parkhead boss eager to hold on to Van Dijk after Denayer’s departure
Ronny Deila has described his first season as Celtic boss as a combination of “hell and heaven”.
The Norwegian took over from Neil Lennon last summer, but after a rather frantic pre-season, and while still getting used to his squad, two chances to reach the group stages of the Champions League were passed up.
After losing 6-1 on aggregate to Legia Warsaw, Celtic were reinstated due to an administration error by the Polish club, but contrived to lose the play-off to Slovenian side Maribor.
However, Deila slowly put his stamp on the club and guided the Hoops out of the Europa League group stage before they were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by Inter Milan in the last 32.
And after domestic dominance was established, Celtic captured the Scottish League Cup in March and were confirmed Premiership champions at the weekend, when challengers Aberdeen failed to win at Tannadice.
Speaking at Celtic Park, Deila said: “It has been tough at times and very happy at times and that’s why you love football.
“It is hell or heaven ... It is always very good or very bad.”
He continued: “The first six month was very tough. The Champions League campaign was very hard.
“I didn’t feel so much a part of it but I had to manage it.
“That was the tough part of course, as well as the beginning of the season when we struggled in the league,” he said.
“The Europa League is not talked about so much, but it was a big thing to get through the group stages and play European football in winter.
“The two games against Inter Milan were some of the highlights of the season.
“Things are improving and I am eager to take it forward to the next stage.”
The former Stromsgodset boss believes he and his squad will be much better placed next season to qualify for the Champions League.
“We are in a totally different situation than the one we were in last year,” he said.
“The most important thing is keeping players. We need consistency and the players here are good enough to take us into the Champions League.
“But we need to make the squad stronger and make it more competitive.”
Deila appeared relaxed about loan defender Jason Denayer returning to Manchester City.
However, he urged his Dutch centreback partner Virgil van Dijk to stay at Parkhead and prove in the Champions League that he is good enough to join one of the elite clubs in Europe.
He said: “Denayer goes back to Man City and we have to look at what we do there, that is a challenge.
“But there is more in it for us to get into the Champions League than to sell Virgil van Dijk.
“Virgil also needs a good Champions League campaign, and if we get into the group stages he will get the challenges he is after.
“He is a very good player but still we can make him better. He should go to the biggest clubs in the league, not the small clubs in the biggest leagues with money.”