Transfer window was a pain for Celtic boss Deila

Now that it is firmly closed for another four months, he hopes he can see his way clear to getting on with the job of setting Celtic back on the winning path.

Transfer speculation - involving players coming in and going out - provided the unwanted soundtrack to the Norwegian's first 11 weeks in charge at Parkhead.

Today, for the first time, he can sit down and assess precisely who he has to work with for the rest of the first half of the season, and focus on the programme he means to implement to take this side where he wants them to go.

And that is back to the top of the SPFL Premiership and into the knock-out rounds of the Europa League.

There was no denying, either in words or expression, his relief that the window slammed shut at 11pm last night, to the sound of a few players - including Amido Balde, Dylan McGeouch, Holmbert Fridjonsson, Teemu Pukki and Jackson Irvine - heading out on loan, and the cheers for Stefan Scepovic coming in.

Deila is glad that this often-chaotic first chapter of his managerial career at Celtic is now at a close.

"It's a relief that the window is closed. It is very important that I now know which players I have to work with," he said. "When the window is open, the speculation takes a lot of energy, not only from inside the group but also out of it.

"Now it is much easier to get the energy and the focus into the right things, and that is playing football."

Ironically, for Celtic and the rest of the top-flight clubs, that football will not be resumed until a week on Saturday as the bulk of the Hoops squad is currently scattered around the globe on international duty.

The manager will use this break to recharge his own batteries and reflect, while some of his players not away playing for their countries will travel today to Spain for a charity match against Villarreal.

For another group - those on the injured list, including Scott Brown, Mikael Lustig, James Forrest and Aleksander Tonev - it is an opportunity to get back to full fitness.

"We need to get our players fit and injury-free," said Deila who has not been able to select club captain Brown for any competitive games after the captain tore a hamstring in pre-season action.

"I hope he can be back in training when we get back after this break," reported the Hoops boss, who hasn't hidden how much he believes the absence of the midfielder has hurt his side.

Forrest has been another major loss for the bulk of this campaign. Deila continued: "Our priority is to get them fit, because we have too many players out just now. We also want to use this time to get the new players ready to play.

"We know we are going to have a strong squad and a lot to fight for this season."

Celtic's tough schedule will begin as soon as their players return from international duty next week.

The visit of Aberdeen to Glasgow on September 13 will be a massive test for a side which has not won any of its last four games. Then it's off to Austria to play their opening Europa League tie against Red Bull Salzburg before taking on Croatia's Dynamo Zagreb and FC Astra of Romania.

The Thursday/Sunday programme Celtic will face has upset the rhythm of teams in the past, but Deila is unfazed.

"It is not ideal," he said, "but it is how it is. There will still be at least three days between games, that should be enough. We will have a big squad, and that is important."

Dropping into the Europa League when the Champions League was the target carries with it serious consequences, not least in terms of revenue.But Deila is looking at this parachute jump as an opportunity rather than a consolation prize. He does not want simply to participate, but to have a go.

He insisted: "Of course we are going to compete in this competition. These are important matches to us."

THERE will be the chance to add some much-needed co-efficient points to move the Hoops towards a better draw in subsequent seasons.

The Thursday matches will also give Deila the opportunity to give some of his less-experienced players a taste of what European football is all about.

"These games will give us a fantastic chance to go through from the group and have some good games at Celtic Park," said the manager.

"We want to compete for as long as possible in Europe."

To have any hope of getting through the group, however, the team's performances will require significant improvement from the disappointing displays that have been delivered in recent games.

Sunday's ineffectual showing against Dundee at Dens Park was far from what was required ahead of this short-term break, and Deila accepts his players must do better.

"We started the game very poorly, conceding a goal very early. The players were very passive and afraid to lose." That negativity is not a badge which should ever be pinned on Celtic.

But Deila believes phase two of his tenure is about to begin, and that it will bring with it serious improvement.

He said: "Now we have to bring everyone together. There has been too much speculation. That's away now.

"There are things we want to do to improve how we are playing, and we are working hard every day to improve.

"There have been a lot of games in a short time and, of course, the transfer window has been open. But I think we will be stronger now that the window is closed."