Deila’s incredible claim
Britain Football Soccer - Celtic v Motherwell - Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership - Celtic Park - 15/5/16 Celtic manager Ronny Deila celebrates with the trophy at the end of the game Action Images via Reuters / Russell Cheyne Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Ronny Deila believes that he laid the foundations for Celtic’s current success!
The Norwegian stepped down as manager after losing on penalties to Sevco in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
Celtic finally clinched the title with three matches left to play with few tears shed when Deila stepped down.
Other than Kieran Tierney and Leigh Griffiths there were no signs of improvement in any Celtic players last season with the stands emptying game by game as season ticket holders voted with their feet.
“I’m very pleased that that many of the players I had doing are doing fine now,” The Sun reports Deila saying in an interview in Norway.
“For me, it is a gratification, I’m not a trophy hunter, I operated by creating things. And I have been very clear on this.
“Virgil van Dijk was sold for £15million – Celtic’s biggest ever transfer. Who was involved in that?
“I created things at Celtic and they are now reaping the rewards of it. It was part of my job and I hope to do the same at Valarenga.
“People can say what they want, but I lost 19 games of 120 and was the manager of Celtic for two seasons.
“The experience of being a manager at such a big club has made me a stronger person.”
Deila added: “I was involved in this process. I certainly was involved in transferring my knowledge to the team and they have reaped the fruits of my labour.
“And when they got Brendan Rodgers, it was a giant step for them. The way I handled it and the experience I gained, I’m proud.”
Without wishing to open old sores van Dijk, whose fee at the time was quoted at £10m, had already spent a season at Celtic when Deila took over, playing in two failed Champions League qualifying campaigns did little for the Dutchman.
There are half a dozen examples of players who looked dead on their feet last season that have been revived by Rodgers’ coaching and man management.
Within football most folk take a back seat when they move on and let their records speak for themselves- Rodgers wasn’t shouting the odds about his players when Liverpool were riding high going into the Christmas period.
Rather than boast about his near-success at Celtic Deila should concentrate his energy on bringing success to Valarenga.
CLICK HERE for original interview.