Ronny Deila insists Celtic's league form is priority over Europe

Ronny Deila insists Celtic’s league meeting with Hamilton on Sunday is more important to the club than their dramatic 3-3 draw with Inter in the Europa League.

Deila’s team came back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to level against the Italians deep in injury time at Parkhead as John Guidetti scored his first goal since November.

It gave Celtic a result which looked so unlikely after they conceded twice in the first 12 minutes and they will travel to Italy next week with genuine hope of reaching the last 16.

It was a good performance when you think how hard it is to score against Italian teams. You have to keep believing in what you're doing.

Before then, the Scottish champions will continue their defence against a Hamilton side which defeated them 1-0 when they came to Glasgow in October.

Domestically, Celtic have won eight games in a row and the goal they lost to St Johnstone last weekend was their first in 817 minutes of football.

While their form is much better than it was in the early stages of Deila’s first season in charge since replacing Neil Lennon, it is important for them to keep producing good results.

Second-placed Aberdeen are also in good form having gone 12 games unbeaten in the league, winning all bar two of those fixtures.

The contrast between playing three-time European champions Inter and Hamilton – a side who have never played continental competition – is obvious.

Yet Deila has hinted retaining their Premiership title is a bigger priority, with continued involvement abroad seen as a bonus.

Although he was happy with the way his players responded against Inter and is optimistic of defeating them over two legs, he is more concerned about how things go at home first.

He is keen to eradicate defensive mistakes on all fronts after being unhappy with how easily Inter scored their goals in Glasgow but admits he will accept victories whatever way they come.

'Offensive'

The Norwegian said: "There is always a balance between attacking and defending but I would rather win 4-3 than 1-0.

"We want to attack and be offensive but the goals we lost against Inter were too easy. There were some individual things but we don't get the same pressure that Inter put us under in the league.

“It was a good performance when you think how hard it is to score against Italian teams. You have to keep believing in what you're doing. That's what the team did.

"But we know that the league is the most important thing and this Sunday is more important in my mind than yesterday.

"We have to concentrate on our development. Yesterday we showed we can play even with a good team at home."

Deila was happy with Guidetti’s late contribution against Inter as he brought his long run without a goal to an end.

He appears less content with Anthony Stokes, who wasn’t used in the Europa League match after reportedly returning to the club late from a trip home to Ireland.

We have to think about Celtic as a team, that the squad fights for each other and you put the team in front of yourself. It could be switched around on Sunday.

Deila is adamant he was simply left out because of the volume of players he has pushing for places but Stokes could play against Hamilton.

Deila added: “There is hard competition now and we chose otherwise. I think we have 23 players at training tomorrow so we will pick the team we think will be the best.

“John had a period where he was a little bit frustrated but he has stepped it up in the last few weeks.

"It is going to be tough to take the right decisions but again, we are going to play so many matches so we need everybody and we need good substitutes as well.

"We have to think about Celtic as a team, that the squad fights for each other and you put the team in front of yourself. It could be switched around on Sunday."