Deila: Team Showed Character

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has praised the character of his team, after he watched them defeat St Johnstone 3-1 at Celtic Park to go top of the table.

An early own goal from Dedryck Boyata gave the home side a fright as they looked to bounce back from their Champions League exit at the hands of Swedish side Malmo. However, a swift equaliser from Leigh Griffiths followed by goals from Tom Rogic and Charlie Mulgrew either side of half-time secured the points for the hosts.

And Deila, who has come under scrutiny from fans and pundits after Tuesday’s humbling defeat, told the BBC that he was pleased to see his side bounce back strongly with a win that puts them one point ahead of second-placed Aberdeen.

You have to stop talking about relief (at picking up points). This is about being happy, seeing everything as an opportunity. So I’m happy today, very happy, not relieved. It was a tough start for us, but we showed character, discipline and confidence to turn it around.

There was a moment in the second-half where Celtic and Scotland fans had their hearts in their mouths as Scott Brown writhed around in agony after a heavy tackle from the visitors. The medical department treated Brown on the pitch for several minutes before being subbed for Mulgrew shortly afterwards.

With key international clashes against Germany and Georgia on the horizon for Gordon Strachan’s Scotland, Deila eased fears that the Scotland captain’s knock was as bad as first feared.

He will be fit (for the Scotland games). I talked with him and he seemed to be okay. It was a tough knock that he got, but he will be ready for the games I think.

With the win proving to be a nice tonic after the humiliating 2-0 Champions League loss to Malmo, Deila went on to state how he believed failing to qualify last year was more difficult to take than this year’s failures.

The Norwegian was only in the Celtic job for a matter of weeks when he saw his side crash out 6-1 to Legia Warsaw, before getting a reprieve and losing once again in a 2-1 loss to Maribor over two legs.

Despite the fact that Deila had been preparing for the Malmo clash over a period of time, the Celtic manager claimed that it was harder to endure the pains of elimination last year than this time around.

 I think it was harder last year, because I didn’t have control of anything last season. It was tough days this week of course. It was tough for everybody, but everyone knows that you just have to move on and there’s a lot ahead – interesting games and a lot to fight for.