Ronny Deila insists Aberdeen still in the title race

Celtic boss Ronny Deila insists Aberdeen remain genuine title contenders despite Pittodrie counterpart Derek McInnes claiming the race for the championship is over.

McInnes revealed his side were concentrating on amassing as many points as possible, having already matched last season's haul of 68 with six matches remaining.

Celtic dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Inverness last Saturday and 24 hours later Aberdeen took full advantage of the slip-up when winning 2-1 at Kilmarnock.

To win the league and win cups, you have to win almost all your games, and that's a hard thing and why so few have done it before.

But despite closing the gap to five points - having played a game more than the Hoops - McInnes refused to join those claiming a first top-flight title in 30 years could be heading to the Granite City.

Celtic can re-establish an eight-point cushion - effectively nine with a vastly superior goal difference - against Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Wednesday but still Deila refuses to concede a 46th crown is heading his way.

"We have to win a lot more games," said the Norwegian. "Every game we're winning, the closer we get to winning the title and that's a positive thing.

"But still it's way too far to say that it's over. When you enter everything, you say the next game is the most important, and if you win that then you think everything is fine, but after that game you realise the next game is even more important.

Difficult 

"To win the league and win cups, you have to win almost all your games, and that's a hard thing and why so few have done it before."

Meanwhile, Deila is convinced the lure of playing for Celtic will ensure key midfielder Stefan Johansen resists the temptation to move to the Premier League.

Johansen is a leading contender for player of the year honours in Scotland and has been a stand-out for the Hoops in their bid for a domestic treble this season.

His form has alerted a number of clubs in England, and on the continent, but Deila believes the club's appeal will prove too difficult for his compatriot to resist, despite the obvious financial gains.

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"He has had periods in his career where not everything has been so good for him," said Deila. "Not everything is about moving on.

"When you enjoy a place and you are liked and you enjoy to be there then a lot of players have to think 'ok, why am I good here and why am I enjoying it?' 

"That is more important than fighting for the big money all the time and always going to be on the move. Because when you sit on the bench somewhere or sit in the stands and are unhappy, money is nothing."