Ronny Delia believes that Celtic’s Europa League trip to San Siro played a part in the midweek defeat from St Johnstone.
Celtic have lost four times in the SPFL this season with two of those defeats- at Inverness Caley Thistle in August and Hamilton Accies in September- coming straight after Europea matches.
Deila places great store in statistics with every aspect of his side’s performances looked into as he looks for improvement.
“We are disappointed we didn’t get the win but we have to give credit to St Johnstone, they defended well,” the Celtic boss admitted.
“But I also feel I have to see a little bit behind the result. It was hard to do that immediately after the game because there are too many emotions. We have lost four times in the league and three of them have been when we have played a lot of games.
“Hamilton was the last game before we had the national team break. A little bit like now, it was three days after the Europa League when we had been at home to Zagreb.
“The same with Inverness. That was three days after Champions League qualification against Maribor and I changed a lot in the team.
“It is not the second, the third or the fourth game that is hard when you play so many but it is when you come to the sixth and seventh after each other and also only have three days instead of four between games.
“It is a big difference because you cannot get 100 per cent rested. You lose 10 per cent against Inter Milan and then go into the game against Aberdeen and lose another 10 per cent again because you can’t rest.
“You saw against St Johnstone the first 25 minutes was good, we were controlling the game, playing quick and getting chances but suddenly it was like a click and the energy was out of the boys.
“For Tannadice that will be four days and that is an important thing. It is an extra day and also it is not 12pm but 3.30pm, so I am glad we play on Sunday and we are going to bounce back on Sunday. I am confident of that.”
