Celtic boss Ronny Deila pleads for time to restore European pride
Friday 6 November 2015 16:28, UK
Celtic boss Ronny Deila is adamant he will make his mark on the Champions League if given the same leeway afforded his predecessors at Parkhead.
The Hoops were beaten 2-1 at home by Norwegian outfit Molde on Thursday evening to further damage their hopes of reaching the the last 32 of the Europa League.
Celtic sit bottom of Group A with two points from four games and need to beat Ajax at home and take something from the final game against Fenerbahce to have any chance of advancing.
Since taking over from Neil Lennon in the summer of 2014, Deila has passed up three chances to make the group stages of the Champions League, but is hopeful of being given another tilt at the continent's elite if, as expected, Celtic make it five-in-a-row next May.
Lennon eventually secured the Hoops passage to the knockout stages in his third season, while his predecessor Gordon Strachan, whose reign started with a 5-0 defeat against Artmedia Bratislava, twice reached the last 16 of the competition.
And speaking ahead of this weekend's trip to Ross County, Deila admits he is looking for the same backing from the Celtic board to turn the club's fortunes around on the European stage.
"When you see the history of this club, we have had a manager before who has struggled in Europe in the beginning but the club has stood by their manager and that is what I expect with me as well," he said.
"I really, really want to be here. I love the club and the fans, I am really ambitious and I am sorry [about the Molde result]. I can assure you I didn't sleep a lot last night.
"I know what I've done in my past. I know all my teams have progressed. I know what I'm building, I know what I want and all the players know how we want to do it.
"I see talent in the team, I see progress. I know we need to get even better but we are not out of the group. People will say it is going to be hard but it is still possible. A victory against Ajax and we are suddenly into it again and then we can do something in Turkey.
"So it is still in our hands but again we have to take away those things we have been talking about [mistakes]."
Asked if his future with the club was dependent on progression in Europe, he said: "Of course it is. But as I said managers before here have been struggling in Europe in the beginning and made it right in the end.
"Ok, we didn't make the Champions League but we went through the group stages last year where we played Inter Milan before going on to win two titles. (League and League Cup).
"This year we can still win everything and we can still go through in the Europa League even though we have made it hard for ourselves now.
"So there is still a lot to fight for and I am very confident we can reach the Champions League next year."
