Wednesday 11 February 2015 09:53, UK
Celtic boss Ronny Deila has returned from a spying mission to the San Siro with increased confidence ahead of the Europa League last-32 tie against Inter Milan.
The Hoops manager watched Roberto Mancini's side beat Palermo 3-0 on Sunday, the home's side first Serie A victory in a month.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday's Scottish Premiership clash with Partick Thistle at Firhill, Deila was asked about his thoughts on Inter.
We can beat Inter Milan. We have a chance. We are in good shape. We have a very good squad and we look forward to the game.
"They are a good team, a big club, with many good players," he said. "But after the game I sat with a good feeling. I saw that they are a good team. But we are good as well.
"We can beat Inter Milan. We have a chance. We are in good shape. We have a very good squad and we look forward to the game.
"Mancini has not been that long in the club, it takes time to adapt and get together. You can see that they are not getting 100 per cent out of the players they have at this time.
'Atmosphere'
"The results in the league haven't been what they expected. The fans weren't against them but it was quiet, it was not the same atmosphere as in the big matches we have had. But still they are a good team. However, we have done it before and we can do it again."
But Deila was keen to discuss the domestic challenges before the Inter match, with the trip across the city to Maryhill, followed by another away game at St Johnstone on Saturday.
The Norwegian hopes to take maximum points from the two Scottish Premiership matches before thinking too much about Europa League business.
Deila said: "The most important thing is the league. It is very important to have good results and good performances in the two games coming up and if we have good results and performances then we will also take confidence into the next games."
Partick boss Alan Archibald is hoping his team can find the spark which led to them beating Hamilton 5-0 in mid-January.
Since that game, Thistle have drawn at Kilmarnock and lost at home to St Mirren and Inverness Caley.
"We need to do better than we have been in the last couple of games. Our performances haven't been great but a few weeks ago against Hamilton, one of the top teams in the league, we done really well,” Archibald said to Sky Sports News HQ.
"We were rampant that night and hopefully if we put on another performance like that we can cause Celtic problems.
"Our best chance of that would be on the counter attack because they are all comfortable on the ball and they push up, but at times they leave man-for-man at the back so hopefully we can try and exploit that.
"But you have to be good in possession and make sure you look after the ball when you get it."
Watch Partick Thistle take on Celtic from Firhill live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm this Wednesday
