Celtic are well placed to beat Inter AND Aberdeen - but Scottish title must always be the priority as a Champions League gateway

That's quickly followed by the top-of-the-table clash with Aberdeen on Sunday, which, though it can't be classed as a league decider, can have a huge influence on where the title ends up.

I agree with Ronny Deila when he says the match against the Dons is the more important because retaining the league championship is the priority.

Not that the Europa League is not worth pursuing. Can you imagine the excitement and expectation which will be created if they can beat Inter Milan and make it to the last 16?

But against that, can you imagine the fall out if Celtic did not win the SPFL league title?

The consequences for Ronny would be dire, not least because, being realistic, this is the key to them having another chance to qualify for the Champions League next season.

The good news for Ronny is that, such is the strength of his squad these days, he is well placed to have a real go at winning both these matches.

He has genuine options in most positions, something you could not say earlier in the season.

So, if he chooses, Ronny can field one team tonight and still have another fresh to go in against Aberdeen.

I don't imagine that is what he will do, but it is reassuring for a manager to know he has this available to him.

The other ace Ronny now has up his sleeve is the confidence which is running through the squad.

It could have been damaged when Inter went 2-0 in last week's first leg.

But the way they fought back not once but twice to get a well-deserved draw tells you a lot about the belief and spirit which is present among this group of players.

They will have learned a lot about Inter, good and bad, but they will also have learned a lot about one another.

Inter are still favourites, as they were before a ball was kicked last week.

But Celtic know they can get at them.

They also know, however, they must defend much better than they did in the first half at Celtic Park when three cheap goals were conceded.

No-one could have predicted Craig Gordon having the night he did.

But he showed strength of character to keep his focus and make some important saves.

So there are no fears about him tonight, and it would be no surprise if he put in another one of his fantastic, big-game performances.

For me, the concern is more about others in the team showing they can step up to this level - and that includes Virgil van Dijk.

The way he struggled to cope with Inter last week, then strolled through the game against Hamilton a few days later, sums up perfectly the gulf between domestic and European football.

If the big Dutchman is to win the move he believes he is good enough to get, it is in games like this he has to step up to the plate.

The Inter players are not going to stand back in awe of him. They are going to seek out any weakness, be it in his positioning, strength or focus, and exploit it the best they can.

It is up to Virgil to show he is as good as he appears to think he is because it is against guys like Shaqiri, Palacio and Icardi that he will be judged by clubs who may be considering bidding for him.

I hope he has his best-ever game for Celtic, and that his team-mates do the same.

There's no doubt they will need to be at their very best if they are to get through this test.

I certainly don't think it's mission impossible, even though Inter have finally hit form in their league games.

Both Inter and Celtic showed two sides in the first leg. Who knows for sure which teams will turn up tonight?

One thing we do know is Celtic can't start as poorly as they did last Thursday and expect to go through.

They have now conceded 10 goals in their last three European ties - three at home to Salzburg, four away to Dinamo Zagreb, and another three to Inter.

No matter how much they have improved in an attacking sense, that's never going to be good enough at this level.

So, even though it is essential they win to go through, they have to base their approach on a solid defensive performance, or they could be out of the tie before it really gets going.

They have to be compact, and well-organised when Inter are in possession.

Then they have to be ready to use quick counter-attacks when they get the ball, and clinical when they get a sight of goal.

That gives Ronny a few selection issues. In particular, does he go with the experience of Kris Commons, or the pace of Gary Mackay-Steven?

The manner in which Gary and Stuart Armstrong took to the big stage last week was a huge bonus.

If this game was at Celtic Park, I think Kris would get the nod.

But in the San Siro, when quick turnaround could be key, Gary must be in with a big shout.

John Guidetti will expect to start his first European game for the club after his dramatic impact from the bench last week.

But I'm not so sure Ronny will elect to go with him as Leigh Griffiths can really work a back line.

That would be a huge disappointment to John.

But it's not about what a player wants, it's about what is best for the team.

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