And last Wednesday night’s 2-1 victory over the Gorgie side at Tynecastle took the Parkhead men into the Scottish League Cup semi-final, a response to Europa League adversity which has delighted Deila.
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“My players can sample the atmosphere, enjoy it and they don’t have the pressure in terms of we have to win the game”. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Molde FK’s Norwegian forward Mohamed Elyounoussi (R) shoots to score his team’s first goal during a UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Celtic and Molde FK at Celtic Park, in Glasgow, Scotland on November 5, 2015.
The Hoops, who were also defeated by Molde in the corresponding fixture in Norway last month, are yet to win a game in the tournament so far.
However, Deila’s many critics amongst the Celtic support are all too familiar with a dismal pattern in which their full backs push on in tandem, leaving the centre backs exposed.
“We deserved more against Fenerbahce and I think we played well down in Ajax, where we had control until we got a man sent off”.
Insisting wins over Molde and Ajax at home can tee Celtic up for a run in the competition, however, Bitton added: ‘This is maybe the most hard group in the Europa League.
“Molde showed they are the best team in the group”.
But despite making such a bright start, it was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side that broke the deadlock.
Molde (4-4-1-1): Horvath; Linnes, Toivio, Forren, Rindaroy; Mostrom (E Hestad 60), Hussain, D Hestad, Elyounoussi; Hoiland (Kamara h-t).
Horvath kept his side ahead with two excellent second-half saves, first tipping over a sharp drive from Kieran Tierney before getting down low to his left to claw away a goal-bound header from Mikael Lustig.
“We have to win challenges and we lost that game inside the two boxes and that is disappointing”.
“If I was them I would stick with Ronny”, said the former Manchester United striker.
He said: “Celtic is a special club and every time I go to the pitch I get goosebumps”.
He told the official Celtic website: “As soon as I got a new offer from Celtic I had no questions about signing”.
‘Of course I know Ronny well and I speak to him often.
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Celtic team (from): Gordon, Lustig, Blackett, Ambrose, Simunovic, Boyata, Izaguirre, Johansen, Bitton, Forrest, Allan, Armstrong, Rogic, Commons, Mackay-Steven, Ciftci, Griffiths, Janko, MacGregor, Bailly.
