Celtic boss Ronny Deila focuses on trophies not speculation
Celtic manager Ronny Deila says his only focus is on winning a league and cup double with the Hoops as speculation continues to grow about his future. The Glasgow giants are a point above Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand over the Dons […]
Celtic manager Ronny Deila says his only focus is on winning a league and cup double with the Hoops as speculation continues to grow about his future.
The Glasgow giants are a point above Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand over the Dons and face Old Firm rivals Rangers for a place in the Scottish Cup final next month.
However, poor European results and a defeat to Ross County in the League Cup semi-final has seen pressure mount on the Norwegian manager who took charge at Celtic Park in June 2014.
Former Manchester United manager David Moyes and ex-Celtic player Malky Mackay have both been touted as possible successors to Deila while Neil Lennon, who occupied the manager’s job before Deila’s arrival, is also available after leaving Bolton Wanderers.
But as he prepared his side for a trip to Rugby Park to take on struggling Kilmarnock on Saturday, Deila dismissed the speculation as a waste of energy.
“The newspapers want to fill their pages every day, but for me, the only thing I’m thinking about is getting the double for Celtic and we’ve got exciting games ahead,” the Celtic manager said.
“There are a lot of things going on in the media but I have to have my eyes on what I can do something with, and that’s what I do with the team -– make sure they’re prepared for Saturday and I’m really looking forward to the game.
“I am the Celtic manager and I want to remain the Celtic manager. I want to fight to get four trophies in two years and fight for the fifth title in a row, and whatever happens outside of that I can’t waste any energy on.”
Celtic’s previous two meetings with Killie, who currently occupy the relegation play-off spot, have ended in draws and Deila knows that, with Aberdeen breathing down their necks, the Hoops can’t afford a similar result on Saturday.
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“We need to score goals. If you take the game at Kilmarnock last time we had a lot of chances and we should have killed the game,” the Celtic boss said.
“It’s always tough, at this stage of the season, to meet teams who are down at the bottom fighting against relegation because it’s a cup final every week for them. At the same time, it’s also important for us.
“We want to be very prepared for the game and we won’t give them anything to get confidence about.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, Aberdeen are likely to face a weakened Motherwell side after the outbreak of a virus that has affected the majority of the Fir Park club’s first-team squad.
League Cup winners Ross County will parade their trophy in Dingwall where they host Highland rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle, while on Sunday the Dundee derby will see bottom club United, who are eight points adrift at the foot of the table, host Dundee at Tannadice.
