Celtic manager Ronny Deila is convinced that the Scottish champions are ready to face Malmo on Wednesday night as they look to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stages.
Speaking to the official Celtic website ahead of Wednesday’s game, a confident Deila said: “I’m feeling great. We have had good preparation and had a good game on Saturday. Now we are finally into the last play-off game and everything is possible now.
“The most important thing is to win and get a good result. We also know that getting a clean sheet is also very important in European football, so that’s what we want.
“We have done very good defensive work in European matches so far. Against Qarabag we didn’t concede any goals and scored one, and if we do that again we have a good chance.
“We are meeting a good team. Malmo have done well in the last two or three years and I have a big respect for the club. They have developed a lot of good football players during the years.
“They have lost some players from last season but they have added good players and also brought in some from their academy as well, which is a very good one.
“We are going to face an experienced opponent in Europe. They had a fantastic period in the 1980s with Roy Hodgson as well and then lately again with Age, and it will be a tough game. But we also know that we are Celtic, a big club in Europe and we have had a good season so far, and we are very well prepared for the game tomorrow and are really looking forward to it.
“I feel pressure every game sitting on the bench for Celtic so I’m quite used to it. I trust my team. They have played a lot of games now and I can’t remember the last time we lost one. The team is in good shape and has a lot of confidence. We will see tomorrow how it is against Malmo. You have to prepare in the same way but everyone knows it’s a big occasion and a big game.”
Can Celtic secure a first leg win? Can they secure progression to the group stages of the UEFA Champions League?
