Deila plans few changes for Celtic v Dinamo Zagreb

Deila will be seeking an improvement on the display against Motherwell at Fir Park. Picture: John Devlin

Deila’s side have already qualified for the last 32 of the competition, meaning the midweek match in Croatia is effectively a dead rubber. The manager has also expressed concerns about a hectic schedule having a detrimental effect on his players.

But, despite fears that fatigue could set in, Deila will resist the urge to make too many alterations from the side which secured a seventh league win in a row on Saturday. He said: “Some of them will get a chance but it’s important also that we keep the consistency in the team. If we change too much, it’s not good for the players who are playing.”

Deila will be seeking an improvement on the display at Fir Park, where an early Anthony Stokes goal was all that separated them from struggling Motherwell.

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He added: “I was a little bit angry because we had 20 very good minutes and then we started to be a little bit lazy and didn’t work enough. Suddenly, Motherwell are a good team. We need to do the job for each other for 90 minutes.”

However, Celtic’s recent form overall has led to Deila being rewarded with the SPFL Premiership manager of the month award for November.

The announcement was made yesterday and Deila said: “Of course it means a lot to me, that we have done well.

“Football is teamwork and my staff and I are working very close. I am a leader of the team and this is a reward for the whole team. We work very good together.

“We have worked really hard to get the results and this is a sign that we have done something right which is why I am very happy for everyone at Lennoxtown.

“I won manager of the year in Norway which I got last year when we won the league.”

Motherwell could name their new manager ahead of Saturday’s clash with bottom side Ross County, with caretaker boss Kenny Black and former midfielder Rob Maaskant reported to be on the six-man shortlist to replace Stuart McCall.

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