Celtic: Ronny Deila ready for big week

Ronny Deila looks relaxed as he trains his Celtic squad ahead of his side's UEFA Europa League fixture with Inter Milan. Picture: SNS

The Hoops warmed up for the second-leg of their Europa League last-32 clash against Inter Milan on Thursday night - the teams are tied at 3-3 from the first-leg - with a 4-0 trouncing of Hamilton at Parkhead on Sunday.

A Kris Commons double and goals from Stefan Johansen and John Guidetti moved them three points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand and both sides clash at Celtic Park next Sunday lunchtime in an encounter which could go a long way to deciding the destination of the title.

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With a William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against Dundee United and a Scottish League Cup final against the Tannadice men set for next month, the Norwegian is hoping to return from the San Siro with a last-16 draw in Europe to look forward to as well.

He said: “The weeks are going to get bigger and bigger if we keep on winning.

“Hopefully, if you ask me how big in two weeks’ time when we are in the quarter final (of the Scottish Cup) with the League Cup final coming up, maybe we will have another tie in Europe.

“It is a very important week and we have to be as prepared as we were against Hamilton and last Thursday and if we put in a good performance then we have a chance in Milan.

“It is more important, away to very good opponents in Europe, to think more about them.

“At home we have to attack and be ourselves but away we have to defend better, especially against good teams.”

Deila could afford to leave out Adam Matthews, Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Leigh Griffiths from his starting line-up and still cruise to victory against Accies, albeit they were held at bay in the first 45 minutes.

The former Stromsgodset boss believes added competition for places is revealing itself on the training pitch as well during matches with Celtic unbeaten in 10 domestic games, having won the last nine.

“We have a very good squad and I feel comfortable with whoever I pick to play,” he said.

“It is good to pick players who are different.

“It depends how we see the game on (Thursday) and how we want to play.

“We have high quality and you see that when we come on to the pitch. They are very fit and it is hard to play against us.”