Celtic boss Ronny Deila in confident mood ahead of Malmo clash
Sunday 16 August 2015 14:21, UK
Ronny Deila believes Celtic are in great shape heading into their Champions League play-off clash with Malmo on Wednesday after recording a 4-2 win over Inverness on Saturday.
The Hoops cruised into a commanding and well-deserved 4-0 lead at Parkhead through goals from right-back Mikael Lustig, striker Leigh Griffiths and a second-half double from midfielder Stuart Armstrong.
However, some late slackness, with defender Dedryck Boyata particularly culpable, allowed Caley substitutes Ryan Christie and Dani Lopez to reduce the deficit.
The champions remain two points behind Hearts at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership as they turn their attention to Europe and Deila acknowledged his side cannot afford similar lapses of concentration against Malmo.
Ahead of the first-leg against the Swedish side at Celtic Park, the Hoops boss said: "It is a warning, of course, the players know that. But what we have to take with us is the first 70 minutes, which I thought was very good.
"The whole team was very good, in the first-half especially.
"We battered them and also out-played them and created chances. We should have had more goals but that is a positive thing."
The Norwegian, however, was quick to point out that he was not concerned about what he regards as defensive blips.
"That hasn't happened very often," he said. "It is the first time for a long, long time. That can always happen in football games and we got punished very hard."
New Celtic signing Scott Allan was introduced to the Parkhead crowd before the match following Friday night's highly-publicised move from Hibernian.
Celtic offered £275,000 plus former Easter Road loanee Dylan McGeouch on a permanent deal as well as another midfielder, Liam Henderson, on loan to secure the services of the 23-year-old midfielder.
Armstrong welcomed the added competition to the midfield area and believes his new team-mate will be a terrific addition to the Celtic squad.
He said: "It is a great signing for the club. I had two or three years at Dundee United in the youth team with him and with Scotland Under-21s.
"He is a really good player with a lot of talent and that is what this club is all about."
