Ronny Deila has been an easy target for opposition fans over the past week or so.

The Pittodrie support were gleeful in their rendition of “you’re getting sacked in the morning...” as Derek McInnes’s side triumphed last week.

And there were tentative echoes of it again on Sunday afternoon in Airdrie among the pocket of East Kilbride fans.

So far they have both been wrong but it is a song that will resonate for a little while yet.

Deila, however, has insisted that he a thick enough skin not to allow the jibes to penetrate.

“It can be tough sometimes, I will say that,” said Deila. “It has not been an easy week but always you have to be prepared to go again. No-one likes to be criticised but I am a strong person and I can deal with it.

“My escape is football. The training ground, talking with the coaches I trust and working always to try to improve. If you were to listen to everything that people said about you then you would never get anywhere.

“You have to trust yourself, trust those around you.”

The Norwegian manager falls firmly into the glass half full type, which is probably just as well. That coupled with the fact that he overlooks a morning read of the newspapers that fall onto the Lennoxtown doorstep means he has inoculated himself against the pounding he has taken from all quarters over the last 10 days.

After the failure to qualify for the group stages of the Uefa Champions League there remained a division within the Celtic support with a significant number still backing the manager to get it right in time.

But a woefully disorganised Europa League display and underwhelming domestic form has seen Deila’s reputation crumble.

Former Celts queued up last week to hammer the manager, with Andy Walker, Frank McAvennie, Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Davie Provan all questioning his role at the club.

Sunday’s display in the 2-0 Scottish Cup win against the East Kilbride part-timers appeared to confirm the doubts.

And yet, Deila neither looks nor sounds like a dead man walking.

There has been no rancour or sourness in his disposition which remains upbeat to the point of cheerful and he continues to assert his belief that he has the capability to turn the tide in his favour.

He does not appear to have lost much sleep.

Asked if he had taken in Saturday’s win for Aberdeen in Perth, Deila said: “I saw the score but I think we have to look after ourselves.

"I do not control what might happen in the games with Aberdeen but I can influence what happens with Celtic and this is a league that is in our own hands.

“We have the chance here to go on and win the league and the Scottish Cup and that is what I am trying to do.

“There are 14 games left to play in the league and our aim now is to get through them without losing any more points.

"That is always the aim but we do not want to get too far ahead of ourselves – it is all about the here and now.

“Over the next few weeks we have home games to Ross County and Inverness and we would like to try and press on. They are difficult games but we are at home and I hope that we can go forward.”

And Deila has also appealed to the Hoops support to back the team.

There was one “sack the board” banner within the crowd on Sunday before Celtic’s uninspiring display against East Kilbride, but the Parkhead boss has urged supporters to back the team.

In truth, the only way that will happen is if there is a significant reversal from the downward trajectory that has been evident.

But there remains a body of opinion suggesting that even that will not be enough to save Deila from being handed his P45.

Crucially, though, the Norwegian believes firmly in the security he has been offered by Peter Lawwell and despite the disquiet that has engulfed his position, Deila is confident that he can harmonise his dissenters.

“We have to be together,” he insisted. “The players have to feel free when they go on the pitch and the pressure on me is no problem. It’s also very important everyone stands behind the players when they go on the pitch.

“We cannot move forward if we are not together. We have some home games now and hopefully that we can use them to put ourselves in a good position.”

It is a free week for Celtic with no midweek games and for Deila it is a chance to seek a little respite.

The knee ligament damage injury suffered by Jozo Simunovic has been a disappointment for him given that his aim is to partner the Croatian with new signing Erik Sviatchenko.

“That was not good news for us or for Jozo but I do not want to use that as an excuse for the last few weeks,” he said.

“There is some positive things for us with Charlie Mulgrew and Scott Brown back. Kris Commons is also back training and could be in contention for the weekend so we have to focus on that and try to get into as strong a position as we can.”