Ronny Deila tells Celtic fans: Next year we'll be ready

Ronny Deila says Celtic's early European exit is down to "small details" and has told fans: "We'll be ready next year".

A 2-1 home defeat to Ajax on Thursday means the Scottish champions'  Europa League campaign is over with one group game still to play.

But Deila was in defiant mood after watching an injury-hit side bow out of the competition, claiming his players are maturing and "very close" to being competitive in Europe.

"We buy talent, players who can be Champions League players," he said. "Nobody comes in and is a Champions League player in the first game.

"You have to develop them through time and we are going to be ready next year, that is the message to all the fans and that is the task that I and everyone in this club has.

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"It is small details, you have to be good in small details to win games. That is very close but it is not good enough right now. I see it as small details. If you see the big picture, you are also going to see that.

"It is very hard to bring in a player who has played a lot of Champions League games, that is a different level but we have created a lot of Champions League players and we are going to do that in the future as well.

"It is important that we use the January transfer window well and the summer one as well, of course."

Deila also denied that Celtic's season will now fall flat, saying: "It's not like we're going to close down until next August.

"We are going to keep going domestically. We are leading in the league by six points and are still in every tournament. I think it's very wrong to say the season is now over.

"We are very disappointed. I am very disappointed, but it's done now and we can only look forward. This makes me have a lot of energy to bounce back which I have done many times in my career. I will do it here as well."

Deila, already without injured Scott Brown and Kris Commons, saw Charlie Mulgrew come off the bench for a first appearance in two months only to hobble off again.

"He pulled his muscle again," the manager said. "I don't know if it is the same injury again. It seemed more advanced than just a cramp."

Striker Leigh Griffiths, who had a poor night in front of goal, tweeted: "I can't be more apologetic than I am right now. My performance was Simply SHOCKING and ultimately its cost us dearly."