TALKING CELTIC
RONNY DEILA knows what it’s like to be put on the spot. The Celtic manager was a no-nonsense defender during his playing days in Norway but that did not prevent him venturing forward whenever his team won a penalty and having a blast himself from 12 yards. A total of 32 senior goals netted over the years suggests he scored more than he missed.
These days, however, Deila wants his strikers, rather than the defenders, to be the ones on the mark. In recent times that responsibility has fallen more often than not to Leigh Griffiths who tends to be the fastest to the ball whenever Celtic win a penalty. The striker has scored 33 times this season, with four of his tally coming from the spot. He has also missed three times in this campaign, the last coming against Hamilton in Friday night’s 1-1 draw. His previous miss in the League Cup semi-final defeat to Ross County at Hampden also proved costly.
Deila, though, would fully expect Griffiths to put his hand up again should Celtic win a penalty against Dundee tomorrow night. And he would encourage that, too. The Norwegian likes nothing more than to see his strikers sitting on top of the leading scorers chart and if a few penalties can help boost their numbers all the better.
He said: “I think Leigh will want to take it if we get another penalty. If you get fouled in Norway we normally give it to someone else. Maybe that’s a stupid thing. I learned that from somebody over there! There are many opinions on these things. But I like strikers to take penalties because we want them to be the top scorers and they are most used to being in this situation. I took penalties and I was a central defender, but now it gives confidence to the strikers and they should be the best in these situations.”
Griffiths had a mixed night from the spot against Hamilton, scoring his first penalty but having his second one saved by goalkeeper Michael McGovern. The striker seemed a bit hesitant as he ran up to his second one and Deila admitted there could be a case for someone else having a go should ever Celtic win two awards in the one game again.
He added: “Yes, maybe that is something to think about. But you have to trust people. Leigh wanted to take it on Friday but maybe he will give the ball away the next time. His second penalty was a little bit high but it was a good save.”
Despite Griffiths’ miss and his team dropping two points, Celtic remain on course for a fifth consecutive league title. But Deila thinks winning alone is not enough. He wants his players to win in the right manner too.
It is why he does his homework on a potential signing’s personality as much as his talent before completing any deal. Deila does not want players who talk back to referees, who dive for penalties, or indulge in any of football’s other dark arts. He wants players who act with integrity at all times.
He added: “Honesty is one of my values. I want to win in an honest way. I don’t want to put pressure on the refs and say I don’t trust them. I believe in humanity. I believe everyone wants to do their best but you have to admit mistakes. I am also a humble guy and when I see something wrong, I will say it. I tell my players this, too. We want to be a respected club with good values. That is not to try to find things to pressure people. Things should be right but I will say when referees do wrong things, like the handball in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness last year.
“Everybody could see that was the wrong decision but I want to have a good relationship with the people around us. Players should be humble and honest. That’s important.”
Deila was surprised to learn Celtic have been shown 12 red cards in his 18 months in charge but felt that was more for poor challenges rather than for dissent.
He added: “We don’t get those cards because we shout at refs, it’s for tackles.
“We play aggressively and we also play a high line so that means we get caught one versus one playing in their half of the pitch.
“But we learn through expe-