Ronny Deila needs success in Europe with Celtic this season

The bitter blasts whipping off the North Atlantic will be a cold reminder to the Celtic manager that a chill wind can still blow his European ambitions off course.

It is a harsh environment that will not be unfamiliar to the Norwegian, whose Viking ancestors left their own imprint on this land where dark winters are offset by the summer’s midnight sun.

But it is in this remote outcrop just south of the Arctic Circle that Deila must negotiate safe passage for Celtic into the third qualifying round of the Champions League when they face FC Stjarnan in the second leg qualifier.

With him he brings a 2-0 advantage forged in a first-leg win that wasn’t without its moments of apprehension.

And the contrast between a packed Celtic Park and the setting for tonight’s match could not be more striking. Stjarnan’s ground holds only 1000 fans and can at best be described as spartan.

Yet it is in this arena that Deila’s team must produce a performance that combines professionalism and ruthlessness to get the job done before they can turn their attentions to their next geographical hurdles in either Azerbaijan or Montenegro.

And it is in this arena that his ambitions to be regarded as a Celtic manager of substance will be fully tested.

Still scarred by last season’s early frailties, he knows the score. Domestic domination will count for little if Celtic crash out of Europe before the Champions League group stage.

And if they fail to win a Treble this season, Deila will judged by some as having come up short. Again.

Nobody else in Celtic history has ever had to work with that pressure.

And yet Europe – let’s put a clean sweep aside for the moment – is not getting easier for his club. It is far more difficult than it was for, say, the lauded and loved Martin O’Neill.

His team of Larsson, Sutton, Lennon, McNamara et al are but a memory. Celtic can’t afford those type of players these days.

Imagine the club buying a Chelsea cast-off, which was Sutton 15 years ago, these days. It’s simply not going to happen.

FC Stjarnan really should be overcome tonight. But up next it’s Qarabag of Azerbaijan or Rudar from Montenegro, and neither will be walkovers. Then comes what is known as the Champions League play-off and you can guarantee that if Celtic get there, and they will be seeded, whoever they get are going to be good with a couple of great players.

If they fail, then Deila will live for another year with people wondering if he has what it takes

Yet, if Rangers had not taken their holiday from the top tier three years ago, and the likes of Hearts and Hibs were the teams of a few years ago, then winning a title for any Celtic manager would be more than a consolation.

Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon won leagues after poor European campaigns and got away with it. Deila will not in many quarters, because in terms of the domestic scene, a league and one cup is the minimum expected and will more than likely be delivered.

It is a strange situation this mild-mannered Norwegian finds himself in.

Unless he can get to the group stage with a squad which in terms of costs are on a far lower level than three of his predecessors mentioned, then that’s considered not good enough.

Good job for Celtic then that the manager at the moment wears the look of a contented and confident man who far from fearing what is coming up, is instead relishing the challenge.

Deila said: “The most important thing for us is to continue playing the way we have been playing lately.

“We have things to develop over time. We need to be very good defensively as a unit, be compact and balanced. I think we need to be direct when we have the opportunities.

“We need to keep on producing chances and hopefully we will be even more effective than we were in the first leg and more like we were at the weekend in the game against Eibar. We scored 50 or 60 per cent of our chances, which is very good. I think we are going in the right direction all the time and I’m just looking forward to every game now. We are getting better in every game.”

One goal for Celtic tonight will do it. Stjarnan fancy themselves, at least a bit, but if they concede early, their players will know that’s it.

Deila said: “Of course I expect us to score. I want us to win the game over here. Stjarnan will have to go forward a little bit more, but I think they will try to be compact as well again. They can’t go to the centre of the pitch because they know they will be punished. They will be patient but if they get the game the way they want, they will be more and more offensive.

“Their manager is still confident, of course, because every manager has to believe in his team. If he said they had no chance, then why are they playing the game?

“Of course there is always a chance for them but we have a very good result from the first leg.

“I think 2-0 should be enough but you never know, so we have to take this game very seriously. Hopefully we will not only win the game, but use it to develop and improve as a team.”

One slight advantage the men from Iceland may have is that their ground is small and the pitch is plastic.

But the Celtic manager is not interested in such excuses. Deila said: “The pitch is artificial, so it can’t be that bad. It’s better than a very, very bad grass pitch.

“We have played good games on artificial pitches last season. If we are at our best, we have an advantage playing on an artificial pitch, they are not a problem, they are easy to play on.

“But you are always best at your own stadium, so that is an advantage for Stjarnan and probably why they are playing the game here and not at the National Stadium.”

And if Celtic do win a penalty tonight then Stefan Johansen has been told to leave it to others – unlike last week.

Deila said: “We have to be clear about who has the responsibility and we also have to deal with these situations in a better way than we did last week.

“We will see if Leigh Griffiths is still on penalties. John Kennedy has the responsibility for deciding that – he’s much better on setplays than me!”