RONNY DEILA gave up a safe career as a teacher to pursue greater goals in football.

But educating people remains one of his passions and cornerstones of the team he is building at Celtic.

One trophy is now in the bag. But he wants the Hoops to be best in class in every competition they enter.

Which is why the Treble has been the benchmark he has set for his students since day one of his time as head Bhoy at Parkhead.

Some of his pupils have been more willing than others to learn the lessons he has prepared.

Others have found the homework every bit as hard as the practical stuff on the training field.

But Deila is confident the benefits to the Celtic curriculum he put in place when he took over last summer are now being seen - and reaped.

"We've had some incidents in which we have to do better," he explained. "But we will learn from them."

Deila estimates his fitness and diet demands have seen the squad shed around 50kgs of excess fat in six months, resulting in a leaner, meaner, faster and more efficient Green Machine.

Through what he describes as his own roller-coaster season, Kris Commons has made his contribution to the weight drop.

The 31-year-old was an integral part of the Neil Lennon side that won three titles in a row and reached the last 16 of the Champions League.

But the attacking midfielder concedes today's team is an improvement on the one it succeeded, and that's down to their condition.

He said: "I think we are a better team.

"If you got all the books out and said, right, how many clean sheets did you keep last year? How many goals did you score? How many points did you have?

"Certainly, on paper, we set really high standards, and by this time the league was done and dusted.

"It's hard to say we are a better team. But we are in a better place."

Some have benefited more than others from the Deila diet and Ronny's regime.

But, collectively, they have turned an important corner.

One or two individuals have struggled to keep up with the pace set by the likes of Stefan Johansen and Scott Brown.

James Forrest is one, his history of muscle and nerve problems taking time to purge.

Deila reckons it will be another six months before the 23-year-old can catch up.

But the manager will be patient because he knows the winger who scored the second goal in Sunday's League Cup final win over Dundee United will bring something well worth waiting for.

"James is going in the right direction all of the time now," said a delighted Deila.

"We know we just have to find the consistency in training and matches. But, that takes time.

"I'm happy for him he got a goal in the final - maybe he should have had two - and won a penalty as well."

The one negative from the important milestone day for Forrest was the fact he missed from the spot, having tussled with John Guidetti over who should take the penalty.

Immediately after the final, and again in the press conference ahead of tonight's Scottish Cup replay, Deila found himself fielding questions about the Swede and his attitude.

Previously, the manager had to fire-fight reports Guidetti had told Dutch TV he wanted to return to Feyenoord as soon as possible.

If the constant questioning about the striker and his actions is wearing down Deila, he masks it well.

"I'm used to these things," he insisted.

"This is what we handle inside our dressing room. It's how we deal with these things.

"For me, the team is more important than the individual. And the players have to get this into their minds as well."

A lesson everyone - no matter ho talented of idolised - must take on board if they are not to be left behind.