Friday 27 February 2015 19:50, UK
Ronny Deila insists there are plenty of positives to take from Celtic's European campaign despite Inter ending their interest in the Europa League on Thursday.
A stunning goal by Fredy Guarin two minutes from time earned the home side a 4-3 aggregate victory and a last-16 tie against Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
But the manner of the defeat gave Deila a number of reasons to relish the last third of the season where the Hoops are chasing silverware on three fronts.
We have talked about progress at the club before and I have always said we will get those answers in Europe. I think we showed that we have really, really improved.
Celtic's task was made all the more difficult at the San Siro when influencial centre half Virgil van Dijk was sent off for two yellow cards, both of which were questioned by Deila, who claimed the referee 'had a bad day at the office'.
Slovakian official Ivan Knuzliak handed out a total of seven yellow cards - including the two for the Dutchman - which resulted in Celtic facing a UEFA charge for receiving 'five or more yellow cards in the one match'.
A number of Celtic players, notably van Dyk and Kris Commons, were incensed by the referee's performance but Deila insists his side have enough to look forward to without dwelling on the events of Thursday evening.
Speaking to the assembled media ahead of Sunday's Sky Live showdown with Aberdeen at Celtic Park, the Norwegian said: "I am so proud of the boys. We put on a very good performance at the San Siro.
"We had the game where we wanted it until we got the red card but we showed that we can compete at this level.
'Progress'
"We have talked about progress at the club before and I have always said we will get those answers in Europe. I think we showed that we have really, really improved.
"This is just the start. We have to know why we are getting so much better and do it even more. It is all about the details. Everything is very prepared every day. We are doing the small things better and if we do that we are going to get even better."
And captain Scott Brown backed his manager's claims that, despite the result and the manner of the defeat in Italy, he and his team-mates are showing progress on a game-by-game basis.
We coped with Inter home and away and it shows we're getting better every game and we still have some huge games coming up.
Speaking to the club's official website, the Hoops skipper said: "It was a little bit disappointing but we did ourselves proud. It’s hard to be a referee and get decisions right. At the end of the day, we deserved more out of the game and we didn’t get it.
“It was frustrating going down to 10 men with 60 minutes left to play and it was hard for the lads. But we worked hard and kept trying to do what we have been practicing and we managed to keep the ball for parts of the game, which was encouraging.
“We've done really well. We coped with Inter home and away and it shows we're getting better every game as it comes, and we still have some huge games coming up.
“Every game is now the biggest game of the season and we have to win every game possible. The next four or five games are crucial for us.”
