Ronny Deila confident he has backing of Celtic board
Ronny Deila expects to be given time by the Celtic board to make his mark in the Champions League.
Another European inquest got under way after the Hoops were beaten 2-1 by Norwegian outfit Molde at Parkhead on Thursday night to further damage Europa League hopes.
The Scottish champions are bottom of Group A with two points from four games and need to beat Ajax at home and Fenerbahce away to reach the knockout stages.
Hoops manager Deila has passed up on three chances to make the Champions League since taking over from Neil Lennon in 2014 - Celtic were reinstated in his first season before losing out on the play-off to Maribor - and there is an ongoing debate as to whether the Celtic board should give him another chance next season, in the likely event that they win the Ladbrokes Premiership again.
Lennon failed to reach the Champions League in his first two full seasons as boss before leading the Hoops to the last 16 where they were knocked out by Juventus.
Ahead of the trip to Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Sunday, the Norwegian said: "When you see the history of this club they have had a manager before here who has struggled in Europe in the beginning and made it right.
"And they stand by their manager. That's what I expect with me as well.
"I really want to be here. I love being here. I love the club and the fans, everything and I am really ambitious. And I am sorry, I assure you, I haven't slept a lot last night, but I see talent and progress in the team.
"I know we need to get better but we are still not out of the group.
"People can say it will be hard but it is possible. A victory against Ajax and we are suddenly into it again and we can do something in Turkey."
Asked whether he had been given assurances by the Celtic board, he replied: "I feel quite comfortable in things but you never know in football.
"What we need is for things to go forward, that we have a whole club that believes in what we're doing. I feel that and that is important."
Jozo Simunovic and Kris Commons are set to miss the meeting with County in Dingwall. The 21-year-old Croatian defender has a foot problem and midfielder Commons a muscle injury. Skipper Scott Brown (knee) and Charlie Mulgrew (thigh) are still out.
County forward Liam Boyce hopes the Staggies can capitalise on Celtic's European hangover - by turning their fans against them.
Northern Ireland frontman Boyce believes County can play on the anxieties in the Celtic camp as they look to record only their second ever home win against the Glasgow giants.
Boyce - County's top scorer with 11 goals this season - said: "Of course Celtic will be a bit nervous. You could see last night in the Europa League that they looked a bit nervous.
"They lost the game last night so their fans are going to be angry.
"When they come up here, maybe if we go a goal up they will get on their backs again.
"No player really likes having the fans going against you. It just puts that extra bit of pressure on their shoulders. It can make you even more nervous.
"So we will be trying to turn the fans first and foremost. If you can do that you never know what can happen."
Midfielder Rocco Quinn has shaken off the hamstring injury that has kept him out for almost two months to declare himself fit for the match.
But skipper Andrew Davies is out after the head knock he sustained in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Dundee United.
Full-back Jamie Reckord is also out with hamstring trouble, while goalkeeper Scott Fox also remains on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
Source: PAR
