Celtic boss Ronny Deila rules out skipping league match

Ronny Deila has said that Celtic will not be taking time out from league duty this August as they look to supplement their domestic success on the continental stage.

The Premiership champions have been granted time out from the Scottish league schedule in recent seasons as they have tried to negotiate some testing Champions League qualifiers.

The Celtic team will check back in at Lennoxtown next week as they prepare to enter the second round of qualifiers for the Champions League, with the draw to be made on Monday, June 22. The first leg will be on July 14-15 with the return one week later.

Deila told the club's website: “We’re already planning for next season because we know we’ll have some very important games coming up quickly.

“Our aim is to qualify for the Champions League. That’s where a club like Celtic should be and deserves to be, and that will be our focus when the players report back for training.

"This year our pre-season preparations will be mainly at home because we feel that will give us the best chance of being ready when the qualification games start.

“The fans are, as always, so important to everything we do and the support I’ve had since coming to the club has been amazing. But for everything we want to achieve, we need you with us, we need your support to achieve success. The players work hard but the lift they get when Celtic Park is full is massive.

"I also realise football decisions can impact that and so this year I’ve decided we won’t be taking our ‘joker card’ game in August and will instead have a home Saturday league match.

“We are really looking forward to defending our league title and trying to make it five-in-a-row. And I hope that a full Celtic Park can cheer us on as we start another exciting season.”

Celtic open the defence of their Premiership title with a home game against Ross County on August 1

For a full list of Celtic's Premiership fixtures click here