Deila tells fans why he can’t play youngsters more often

Ronny Deila believes that the demand for results at Celtic means it’s harder to play youngsters and give them a chance to flourish.

As Celtic look to close in our a fifth successive league title, the pressure to win every game now limits the time he can give to young players, and needs experienced players to see Celtic over the line.

The Hoops are currently one point clear of Aberdeen but have a game in hand over their nearest challengers who continue to push Deila’s side for the title.

As quoted by the Daily Mail, Deila said:

I think the pressure for results here is unbelievable. As a manager, you just get judged by results, so it’s hard to give a youngster a chance because, if you do, it increases your chances of losing.

To think more long term is important — and that has to start with the board at every club. That’s a huge thing.

While fans want to see players like Ryan Christie, Patrick Roberts and Scott Allan on the field more often, although the latter is 24,.

Others like Liam Henderson and Aidan Nesbitt have gone out on loan to get more regular first-team action and Deila is having to stick to players he knows because of the pressure to win games right now.

But, if you know you need to have certain results, you play the safe team. You play the game to win rather than thinking: ‘I will take some chances because we have to learn and, in the end, we will get feedback.’

If you play against a youth team in Spain or Holland, they play the same way no matter who their opponents are.

They would rather lose 10-0 than go away from their principles at a young age. They want to develop, but here everything is about winning and it is killing creativity and development.

Deila used Ajax as an example of a team that openly encourages the use of youth players and who also consistently qualify for Europe in a very technical Dutch league.

You see how Ajax do it. I’m not saying they do everything right, but they get youngsters forward because they use them in their team. And, at the same time, they buy the best youngsters from other teams, as well.

They want to be up winning the league and fighting in the Champions League, but they have a very clear strategy that they also want to have young players on the pitch.

But this is a Scottish issue. This is the problem. If nobody gets a chance and can’t make mistakes, how can they progress? There’s no chance.

Celtic are in action again early on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock.