The Roar will return, insists Deila after taming Aberdeen
Celtic boss f inds light at end of the tunnel
RONNY DEILA vowed to roar again after he celebrated a statement 3-1 success over Aberdeen with a swift disappearing act up the Parkhead tunnel.
At the end of another tumultuous week in charge of Celtic, the Norwegian toasted a six-point title lead over Hearts last night as rivals Aberdeen dropped to third.
However, Deila kept in cold storage his usual fist-pumping routine with the Celtic fans, many of whom turned on him 10 days ago after the defeat by Molde in Norway.
The celebration, patented at Pittodrie one year ago, has been put into abeyance during this most testing period of his tenure, and the Celtic manager was in no mood to bring it out of retirement yesterday.
That was in spite of a Leigh Griffiths double and a James Forrest strike following up a fine League Cup raid at Hearts and a demolition of Dundee United since the agony in Molde.
‘It will come back,’ promised Deila of the Ronny Roar. ‘There are a lot of emotions right now and I’m happy.
‘It’s easier when you are playing away because you don’t have to go round the whole stadium! But I’m a very, very happy man, and proud, because to play four games in 10 days is tough.
‘The way we did it was very good, we performed for 90 minutes and should have scored more. On a day when Aberdeen were rested and had prepared for a week, there was a better chance for them to get something.
‘But we showed we were the best team. Every game is close for the first half hour,
whoever you play. But when you see the possession we have and we play forward, we start asking questions.
‘In the end, you get tired and open up. We did it in a brilliant way and I’m so pleased with the players. That’s very good when we’re going into November.’
The significance of the success over the Dons was quickly dismissed in title terms by Deila, speaking after his game and before Hearts thrashed Partick Thistle to become the Parkhead side’s nearest challengers.
‘I don’t think about it, I don’t want to look at it at all,’ said Deila. ‘I’m thinking “next game”. I know we’re not halfway through the season so a lot can happen.
‘But we have a very good group of players who love playing together — you can see it today — and who are hungry for more success. So that’s a good start for winning games and winning trophies.’
His planning will be affected by Scott Brown not being ready to return for Thursday’s visit of Molde in Europa League action.
Centre-half Jozo Simunovic, who hobbled off after 79 minutes yesterday, will need to be monitored as he tries to string a run of games together following a disrupted start to his Celtic career.
‘I don’t think Scott will make it,’ said Deila. ‘The injury is not major so there is a very good chance he will be back after the international break.
‘If we keep on performing we have players that could do a job here, but you always want Scott Brown in your team.
‘Stefan Johansen is playing and is one of the best midfielders in Norway, and Nir Bitton plays for Israel, so I have a good group. I haven’t heard (about Jozo) but it looked like he sprinted at the end so it might have been cramp.
‘He hasn’t played so many games and has now managed three in a week, so I think and hope it is only a cramp and he will be ready for Thursday.’