Deila looking forward to opener

Ronny Deila will watch the Premiership flag being unfurled at Celtic Park on Saturday with a sense of satisfaction that was absent 12 months ago.

The Norwegian's first home game as Hoops' manager last year saw the celebration of the club's third successive title win.

The home fans enjoyed a 6-1 thumping of Dundee United before Neil Lennon's successor ultimately guided Celtic to championship number four.

Lisbon Lion John Clark will unfurl the flag marking that achievement before the match against Ross County as a new league campaign gets under way and this time the former Stromsgodset boss will have earned the applause.

"It is a different situation,'' he said. "I didn't feel a part of it last year.

"This year I have been a part of it and that is the difference.

"It is going to be a nice day and hopefully we can do the same as we did last year when we beat Dundee United 6-1.

"It is going to be tough (this season) but I think we are a better football team than we were at the same time last year and hopefully that will give us more points.

"I learned a lot last year and I am still learning and hopefully it is going the right way.

"But it is the same challenge that we had last year. We want to win games, entertain and win trophies.

"Now the season starts and I am looking forward to it.

"We haven't any footage of Ross County so we don't know exactly what we will meet.

"But we will be prepared to be at our best and if so, then we will have a good chance to win.''

Deila was speaking just hours after the home 1-0 win over Qarabag from Azerbaijan in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifier at Parkhead on Wednesday night.

The Scottish champions play the return match in Baku next Wednesday night and after sleeping on the result and performance, the Celtic boss remains confident of getting through to the play-off.

"It was 1-0, a good result, much better than 2-1 and it puts us in a good position but it is going to be a tough game in Baku,'' he said.

"They have to attack us and also defend well.

"If we score a goal it is going to be much harder for them and we know we are capable of doing it.

"There are few games when we have come off the pitch without scoring.

"So I am looking forward to the game.''

Charlie Mulgrew will again miss out against Ross County with a minor knee injury but Deila hopes the Scotland international will be fit for the trip to Baku next week.