THE Europa League rolled into town on Thursday night and there is one man’s name that is still on the lips of everybody – Efe Ambrose.

There was much chat about what tinkering Ronny Deila would do to his defence for the Fenerbahce tie as a result of Emilio Izaguirre’s suspension, and ultimately he picked the Nigerian at centre-half.

I think the Celtic manager played the team he felt was best equipped to get the result.

Efe is an interesting player. As a commentator I almost feel guilty highlighting before a game that he has mistakes in him. Unfortunately there is history there.

You have to look at Ronny’s view of Efe, though. He’s an internationalist, he’s played at the World Cup, he has faced players like Lionel Messi, too. When he first joined he slotted in quite nicely, it’s only really in the last two-and-a-half years he has become prone to mistakes.

Like I said, it was the team Ronny felt was the starting XI for the job. There are clearly doubts about Tyler Blackett at left-back, so what do you do?

He went with Kieran Tierney at left-back, who is natural there, and in the absence of Jozo Simunovic I think it easy, too easy, to second guess Ronny.

I think this is the thing. It’s not as though you think everything Efe does is awful. It’s just lapses in concentration, and that’s what happened on Thursday. It was an error in judgment but one an international footballer shouldn’t be guilty of.

We’ve now seen them far too often and Ronny has said he is “irritated”.

I was actually about to say in my BT Sport commentary that the important thing for Celtic was to get to half-time with a 2-0 lead. Alas, it didn’t quite happen.

Celtic looked in control at 2-0. Fenerbahce have good individuals but they are not a wonderful side. It was all a bit patchy.

But that mistake from Ambrose is proof positive goals can lift any team.

However, there were positives for Celtic, the main one being they finished the match strongly. They rolled up their sleeves and could have nicked a victory. That shows what they are made of.

The other way to look at it is this: Would Celtic fans have taken two points from their first two games? I’d say probably yes.

Now the Scottish club have two chances against Molde to improve on their current situation. It won’t be easy, as neither Fenerbahce nor Ajax managed to beat the Norwegians, and I don’t think they will be that far removed from what Celtic came up against in Malmo.

They need to look at what went right and wrong in that game. Molde are Norwegian champions and have started well.

It will be a group that engrosses right to the very end. I always had a feeling it would come down to the last game in Istanbul. It’s not an easy place to go if Celtic require a result.

You are meant to enjoy these games, and up to this point it’s been thoroughly enjoyable. Talking points, quality goals and mistakes. The Europa League should be embraced, and we’ll be having more of the same please.

No road south for Celtic and Rangers

DERMOT DESMOND is a very successful businessman, and his opinions should be respected.

But in light of Celtic’s majority shareholder talking up a potential move for his club and Rangers going south, I struggle to see what has changed that will allow the pair into the English football party.

I believe first of all one of the great successes in the Premier League is the collective nature of it. That means that yes, the richest clubs want to remain on top, but they all realise they need the other clubs.

The also-rans are the ones that knocked any proposal down. What’s changed? Fifa and Uefa need to rubber stamp it as well, which would open Pandora’s Box.

Scotland is an independent football country so I don’t see what will change to make this happen.

What is more likely is that someday clubs like Rangers and Celtic would join with teams such as Ajax and Benfica who are in a similar position in their domestic leagues. They all may have common ground. Why English teams would want to share the wealth with both Glasgow clubs is beyond me.