\u201cLast season, you saw Maribor go into the Champions League group stage and take points off Chelsea.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLegia Warsaw also went through the Europa League group stage without losing a point.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo there are good teams out there, especially the champions of different countries.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt is a tough competition but we believe we can make it and go through to the group stage. Celtic is a very big club and we have very good players now. We have good togetherness and I\u2019m really looking forward to the games now.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe have to beat teams of the level of Maribor and Legia. That\u2019s the level we have to be at now.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe were far away from \u2028Legia\u2019s level last year but when we played Maribor, we should have beaten them.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Not travelling half way round the world for pre season training \u00a0has had it’s effect as well<\/p>\n It has worked out exactly as I hoped<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t see anything we should have done differently. We had a good pre-season and everyone is injury-free except Kris Commons (pictured). I am just excited to get going now and play some important games.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt feels very different to last year. There were a lot of new things for me last year, and also for the players. Now it is a much more settled group and we are much more prepared.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n There seems to be a genuine desire to make amends for last seasons debacle, during which nothing seemed to go right. The aspect of those qualifiers which will have been drilled into the players is that once we get in front-remember we always scored early last year- we can then relax and let the opposition make mistakes. Or as Archie MacPherson would have said,” keep the heid “.<\/p>\n With the exception of the injured Kris commons and the suspended Virgil van Dijk, there’s a full squad to go with, but Deila must decide whether or not the new players are ready to do a job at this level this early in their Celtic careers.<\/p>\n Craig Gordon will start, but will Logan Bailly be on the bench, or will Leo Fasan be the deputy. As the chances of Gordon going off or being sent off are reduced due to the referee not having been trained in Lanarkshire, it’s probably not important, but we need to be ready for every possibility, and that’s why Bailly should get the nod. If the worst does happen, at least he is apparently experienced enough not to be fazed by the occasion.<\/p>\n Defence is a problem, not with ability, but with Matthews away and van Dijk unavailable, then Efe Ambrose and Emilio Izaguirre could be the full backs, with Deydrick Boyata and Charlie Mulgrew as centre halfs. These two started the Real Sociedad game together, which means it’s certainly something that Deila is considering, and with Mikael Lustig admitting he’s still below par, then as much as Lustig is arguably our best defender, it won’t do him any favours to rush him back.<\/p>\n The unfamiliar central defence should be protected by Scott Brown and nir biton, which should ease a few palpitations, and then with Stefan Johansen filling his usual number ten role, it is any two from three with Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay Steven probably just about getting the nod over James Forrest. Deila has stated the latter is still not performing at one hundred per cent capability, so I’d expect to se him on the bench, but joining the fray after Mackay Steven has worn himself out.<\/p>\n Leigh Griffiths will be straining at the ;eash to prove he’s still the number one striker, and should start. He , too, though, will wear himself out during the game, which will leave a tired defence to face the bustling Ciftci late on.<\/p>\n Bailly, Lustig, Fisher, Rogic, Henderson , Tierney and Ciftci would be the preferred ( by me ) substitutes bench, as Stokes and Scepovic were involved at morton the other night, which leads me to think they won’t be involved as Ronny either feels they ssare surplus to requirements or not quite fit enough yet.<\/p>\n Tactically, I’d expect nothing new from Deila, but perhaps a little more “keep the heid “, although when the substitutes come on, we may see a wave of late attacks, and consequently, as the Icelandic side tires , maybe a comfortable 4-0 win.<\/p>\n Ronny added to why he’s confident;<\/p>\n The level in our team is high and we are going to cause them so many problems in this game That\u2019s our target. Of course, we have to defend well too. But it\u2019s easier to defend against a long ball than against teams who play out from the back.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m confident we are ready for the game. If we are at our best, we are going to be a handful for them.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cEverything is possible but we just need to go out, make a good performance and see how good they are. We are favourites and it is a team we should beat.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cStjarnan got some good results in the Europa League last year, so they have some experience. We have to be really prepared.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut again, I know how good my team is and if we are on top of our game, we should break them down.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n One other thing he said, which was an indication of the style of the man concerned the national co-efficient, the European system which means Celtic have to start this early. His professionalism showed through;<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to concentrate on what we can do something with, and we want to get into the group stage. That is important for us and it\u2019s important for Scotland.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n When you go through these qualifiers and you look at where we stand in Scotland, that\u2019s the level we are at.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t cheat ourselves better, we have to work to be better. Hopefully Aberdeen, Inverness and ourselves will all do well so we can get some good results for Scottish football this week.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n It is that simple.<\/p>\n Of course, the Record, who delight in running the game down, as it gives them a chance to plead for the introduction of a new club to the top level, because playing against a club who’s players are all described as “former ” , used the quote to claim :<\/p>\n \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n whereas, using the same quotes, perhaps the headline should have been<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No less accurate, and much more constructive.<\/p>\n Accurate and constructive. Two new words for the Record sports department to look up.<\/p>\n Stjarnan have their troubles ahead of tonights game.<\/p>\nCeltic boss Ronny Deila says our game needs a <\/em><\/h1>\n
Euro reality check as we’re just another minnow nation\u00a0<\/em><\/h1>\n
Deila Pledges To Work Hard To Improve Scotland’s<\/h1>\n
Standing In Europe.<\/h1>\n
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