Deila Not Scared Of Malmo Trip

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Ronny Deila insists he is not scared of the prospect of going to Malmo after a last-gasp goal from former Hoops loanee Jo Inge Berget dented Celtic's Champions League hopes as the hosts squeezed out a 3-2 win at Parkhead.

Leigh Griffiths gave the Scottish champions the lead in the third minute of the play-off first leg at Parkhead before midfielder Nir Bitton headed in a second from a Stefan Johansen corner.

Berget, who had a short and unsuccessful loan spell at Parkhead last season, pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute with a wonderful volley before Griffiths headed in his second and sixth of the season in the 61st minute to make it 3-1 to Celtic.

But in the fifth of five added minutes, Berget scored from close range to make next week's return leg in Sweden more fraught than it ought to have been against a Malmo side who overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Salzburg in the previous round.

However, Deila, who revealed right-back Mikael Lustig's hamstring injury "doesn't look well", said: "No, it doesn't scare me. I said they were a good team and it is small details that make you win or lose in European ties.

"We are ahead with one goal. Of course we can beat Malmo away. But they have to beat us and that is a positive thing.

"They have to attack us and that can suit us.

"I am disappointed, of course, to concede a goal in the last second but it happened. We are one goal ahead and they have to beat us in Malmo.

"It could be a better result but it was an okay result. They scored almost with the only two chances they had, which is disappointing but we have to see after the second leg.

"We played well at the start of the game, we were all over them and scored two goals, so it was a little bit disappointing in the end but I have belief that we can do it in Malmo."

On Berget returning to haunt the Hoops, Deila said: "It doesn't hurt more. That's how it is. The first goal was a very good shot, credit to him, but we should have stopped it before it got to him."

Deila's fellow Norwegian, Age Hareide, praised his Malmo players and believes the momentum will be with them next Tuesday night in Sweden.

Hareide said: "It was a terrible start for us. Conceding two goals in the first 10 minutes - I don't know what happened. But credit to the boys for getting back in the game. At 2-1 we had control of the match and Celtic looked tired.

"We saw against Inverness that they do not have the legs for 90 minutes.

"Then we made silly mistakes and you cannot do that at this level. But credit to the boys they worked their way back into the game and made it 3-2.

"We have a very good chance to beat them at home now and we only need one goal.

"We will attack them at home and play our normal game and hopefully it will be enough."