Deila: Collins not disrespectful

Photo by Jeff Holmes.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has defended assistant John Collins after he was accused of being disrespectful to the rest of the Premiership.

Deila claimed the former Scotland midfielder's comments were taken out of context after he stated that players in Scotland lacked the pace and intelligence to punish Celtic.

Several Premiership managers have hit back but Deila claims Collins was only trying to state an "obvious'' fact that his side face bigger challenges in Europe than in the domestic game.

Quoted in Sunday newspapers, Collins said: "We conceded too many goals in Europe last year. If you become open and detached from each other against good players and good teams you'll be punished.

"It's something that doesn't happen to us in Scotland - no disrespect to the other Scottish teams, but they're not clever enough players or quick enough thinkers to punish us when we do become detached from one another.''

Disrespect was taken though. Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes felt the comments were "very disparaging'' and a "slap in the face'' to the rest of the league.

Dundee boss Paul Hartley called them "unfair'' and "disrespectful'' and Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara, while sceptical about the reporting of the comments, questioned why Celtic had signed three of his players this year if his former Scotland team-mate felt that way.

However, Deila claimed the situation had been blown up by the media.

Speaking at a pre-match media conference ahead of Wednesday's trip to Kilmarnock, Deila said: "You take it totally out of context. I think everyone agrees that you sometimes meet opponents in Europe that are better than what you meet in Scotland. That's a very, very obvious thing.

"You get tested harder than you do in the domestic league. That's not only in Scotland but in Norway and Sweden or wherever. But that's not disrespectful to the teams.

"John knows what football is and what quality is and what's best for Scottish football. He has played in the semi-finals of the Champions League so he knows what quality is.''

Deila argued that McInnes had made a similar point after his side's Europa League victory over Rijeka - the former Rangers midfielder claimed no team had tested their discipline like the Croatians.

And the Norwegian claimed they would all agree if they spoke to each other face to face without their words being "twisted''.

"If there is something John Collins is, it's respectful,'' Deila said. "He is an unbelievably respectful man. I really support him. It's not a big thing.

"It's the same for Aberdeen, they meet teams that are tougher than they meet domestically. I also saw in the newspaper that they feel they got tested harder.

"If Derek sits down and talks with us, he totally agrees with us. It's something everyone in Scotland agrees with. You are trying to create a situation that there is nothing in.

"Everyone knows it's harder in the Champions League than the Scottish league, so why discuss it?''

Deila, who could have Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and Charlie Mulgrew available for Wednesday, added:

"We have been the best team in Scotland for four years. Last year we won by 17 points. In the Champions League we meet tougher opponents. That's not disrespectful, we have a lot of challenges in Scotland, but the level in Europe is very, very high.

"When I was at Stromsgodset in Norway, we played differently in Europe. A good team punished you much harder than a team that is not so good. That's a fact.

"There is a lot of talent and good players in the Scottish league. The level in teams is better in the Champions League. There is nothing odd about that.''

Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths also felt Collins had been unfairly portrayed but felt McInnes was right to speak out.

"Aberdeen pushed us really, really hard last season and I think maybe John's comments have been taken a wee bit out of context,'' the former Livingston, Dundee and Hibernian forward said.

"I read this morning that Derek McInnes has hit back a bit and rightly so because whenever we play an SPFL team we show the utmost respect to them.

"We go away from home and teams try to press us and it becomes difficult at times. Aberdeen pushed us a long way last season and we only won the league in May.

"Teams beat us away from home and at home last season. At Parkhead teams are a bit cautious but when we go away from home teams try to attack us.

"I think that's what the manager never really understood last season but this season he has got us really focused.''