Celtic fans right to feel angry after League Cup exit, says Ronny Deila
Tuesday 2 February 2016 16:33, UK
Ronny Deila says he would expect nothing less from Celtic fans after they vented their anger following Sunday's League Cup exit at Hampden.
The Hoops lost 3-1 to Ross County in the semi-final despite taking the lead through Gary Mackay-Steven with just 27 seconds on the clock.
However, a red card to defender Efe Ambrose and County equalising with the resulting spot-kick put the champions on the back foot and further goals from Paul Quinn and Alex Schalk secured the Highlanders a final date with Hibernian back at the National Stadium on March 13.
Despite the implications of the sending off, Hoops fans took to social media to show their displeasure at what they believed was a match Celtic should still have been capable of winning, giving their explosive start to the game.
And speaking ahead of Wednesday's top-of-the-table trip to Aberdeen, Deila admitted he shared their hurt as his side was again left to concentrate on the league and Scottish Cup.
The Norwegian, who was named manager of the month for January after leading his side to four victories during the period, said: "The fans are disappointed and I really understand that.
"Of course we have big ambitions, we have hopes and when something lets you down you get angry. That's something I understand from the fans as well. If not they wouldn't care and that would be a worse thing.
"So I have no problem with that and of course the players feel that as well. But in football there are always tough times to go with the good times. There are always ups and downs and now I have to see the longer picture.
"But January was very good for us. We scored a lot of goals and the team performed very well throughout."
And Deila is convinced had Celtic made their pressure tell in the early stages of Sunday's match the fans would still harbour hopes of a first domestic treble for 15 years.
"The first 12 minutes of the game on Sunday were fantastic," he added. "I am quite hard in my high demand but you can't do more than we did in those first 12 minutes.
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"We scored after 30 seconds we had two big chances from corners and another three times when we were almost through. But again we get caught and and it becomes a very difficult match after we are down to 10 men."
Celtic travel to Pittodrie on Wednesday evening knowing a victory would take them nine points clear of the nearest rivals with a vastly superior goal difference, but they head north without central defender Jozo Simunovic who is out for up to six weeks.
"Jozo damaged his inside ligament in his knee and will be out for four to six weeks," said Deila, who added midfielder Kris Commons is nearing a return following a short spell on the sidelines.
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"Kris has been out with a muscle injury but he has trained now, not fully, and he is close to playing matches."
Aberdeen beat Celtic 2-1 in their first meeting of the season last September but two goals from Leigh Griffiths and one from James Forrest saw the Hoops gain revenge at Celtic Park on October 31.
