RONNY DEILA today laid into TV pundit Steve McManaman after the former England star trashed Celtic's players for their lap of honour tribute to the Parkhead fans at the end of the 3-3 draw with Inter Milan.

Deila's men applauded the Hoops support after John Guidetti's stoppage-time goal gave them a flicker of a chance in the Europa League

return leg in Milan next Thursday.

But BT motormouth McManaman tore into Celtic, insisting the players should have been ashamed to have drawn with what he described as a mediocre Inter side.

Deila, though, defended his players' actions, and branded his remarks as "stupid". He said: "Steve McManaman was one of my favourites when he was playing, but for me this is so stupid to say," said the Celtic boss.

"One of Celtic's values is respect. Sometimes when you lose you have to say congratulations to your opponent, that's going to happen, and also when you don't get the result you want and the fans are unbelievable you have to thank them.

"I think the fans appreciate that as well. The fans helped us so much in the game and I think it's important that the players and the staff, everybody, shows they are grateful for what they did for us."

Deila also cited the manner in which the Celtic support rallied around Craig Gordon after his whopper of a mistake on the cusp of the interval allowed Inter to take the initiative in the game again as further evidence of why his players owed the fans their gratitude.

"You saw what he did in the second half, the two or three saves he made were good, and that support lifted him," said Deila.

"There aren't many stadiums where that would happen and that's why you have to thank them."

Meanwhile, the Celtic manager revealed that Anthony Stokes was axed for the game against the Serie A side due to an internal disciplinary matter.

It is believed that Stokes was late back from a trip home to Ireland and, as a result, found himself left out of the squad entirely.

Deila would not elaborate further, although it is believed that the player will be available for tomorrow's game against Hamilton Accies.

"It was an internal thing, we dealt with it," said the Celtic boss. "It was a small thing, but it was something. We have a big squad and there is competition."