Tuesday, 15th July, 2014
Celtic manager Ronny Deila has bemoaned the performance of other Scottish clubs in Europe, believing it drags down the Bhoys and is a major cause of them having to play three qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League.
Deila's men start their bid to reach the 2014/15 Champions League group stage this evening when they take on Icelandic giants KR Reykjavik in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie.
Deila feels that Celtic should not have to enter the competition at such an early stage, especially having been consistent competitors in the group stage in recent years.
"Celtic have been fighting for many years with the best teams in Europe", the Norwegian manager was quoted as saying by the BBC.
"It is stupid the Scottish coefficient is not regarded as good enough.
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"I knew before I came here that we had three qualifying rounds.
"That's wrong because you have to take into consideration the club, not the country.
"We need the biggest clubs in the Champions League, who have deserved it."
And Deila feels the problem lies with the poor performance of other Scottish clubs, who are, in his view "dragging" Celtic down.
"It's very unfair that going to the last 16, as we did two years ago, is not going to be recognised.
"But it's a problem in every small country. We maybe have one good team but the other ones are dragging that team down."
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