Friday 29 August 2014 17:29, UK
Celtic manager Ronny Deila has labelled the recent criticism directed at him as premature, insisting he should be judged after one year in the job.
The Norwegian has come in for criticism following the Hoops' Champions League play-off exit at the hands of Maribor at Parkhead on Tuesday in what was his second chance of reaching the group stage this season.
Legia Warsaw had initially beaten the Scottish champions 6-1 on aggregate in the third qualifying round, but Celtic were reinstated when the Polish club were found to have fielded an ineligible player.
The reprieve was equally unsuccessful, with Slovenia champions Maribor knocking Celtic out of Europe’s elite club competition before the group stages.
There's a lot of emotions going on and I'm just as disappointed as the fans are, so that's something you have to live with.
In Friday’s Europa League group stage draw, Celtic drew Austrian side Salzburg, Croatians Dinamo Zagreb and Romanian side Astra Giurgiu.
Deila, who took over from Neil Lennon in June, is looking for time to make his mark at the club.
"I take all the criticism I understand it," he said. "There's a lot of emotions going on and I'm just as disappointed as the fans are, so that's something you have to live with.
"We have to build a team again who can go into the Champions League next year and you can think we have a big chance there.
"This year, we didn't have that team. It's not just a case of buying a player and putting him into the team, because they might have not played, are not fit or don't know our style of play.
"Everything takes time. They could have an injury like Scott Brown or like James Forrest.
"You have to train them into a system. This is something we have to develop. We have to develop other players and get new players used to how we want to play. In one year I think it is right for the fans and everybody to judge me.
"If we don't win the league, we don't have anything to do with the Champions League then then they can say to me, 'Hey what a bad job'. And I will take it, no problem."
"We have to close the chapter with Champions League and remember that feeling. We have to learn from those defeats. We weren't good enough and that is what we take with us. Now it is, I hope, almost 50 games and that is what we will focus on."
