Ronny Deila left the Kerrydale Suite on Friday afternoon like the ready break man. Glowing from the public plaudits from his chairman, Ian Bankier, and chief executive, Peter Lawwell, as well as a few verbal compliments from the shareholders who pay to fill the seats on match-day, Deila went out a little bit taller than when he went in.

And yet. Ajax come calling on Thursday evening at Celtic Park as Deila’s side hang on grimly in Group A of the Europa League. Anything like the performance against Molde – take your pick which leg – and it is not just the icy blast of a disgruntled support that Deila will feel but the full repercussions of where it leaves his tenure.

The volume on the criticism that was thrown in his direction in the aftermath of the defeat to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will become noticeably louder if the same kind of performance is registered against Ajax this week.

Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon all made decent strides in Europe in their second season at Celtic. There is an argument to suggest it was Lennon’s third campaign where he really showed his mettle – that Barcelona victory is one of the highlights of the modern era at the club –but even in his second season he could point to some kind of progress against Rennes and Udinese.

Deila’s big problem is that for all his football philosophy is engaging to listen to and makes for interesting chat around a table, there isn’t one big result he can point to as proof that his ideals have found root within his Celtic team.

Individual errors have been horrific but not made in isolation. They have proved repeatedly cost Celtic as they have squandered leads against Malmo, Ajax, Fenerbahce and Molde. Tactically there have been times when Celtic have looked out of sorts entirely against teams who have casually picked them off and, worryingly, there has appeared an inability to halt that slide when the game has been running away from Celtic.

There will be no immediate ejection if Ajax prove troublesome on Thursday night. There won’t be a quick change of guard at the helm of the Celtic hotseat but this game against the Dutch – who currently lead their league and go into the game on the back of a 5-1 weekend win – and also Fenerbahce in the final game – will go some way to showing whether or not the Norwegian can be trusted with the task of guiding Celtic into the UEFA Champions League group stages next season.

In all probability, whatever happens now for Celtic in the Europa League it may well prove to be too little, too late. But positive displays will give Deila’s comments genuine traction that the penny is dropping within his squad – and may just earn him a crack at the big guns this summer.

Certainly, though, Deila remains upbeat about the chance of his side of keeping themselves alive in the Europe League.

“Of course we feel confident,” he said. “We have to see this as an opportunity. It is another chance for us. We played well in Amsterdam and showed that we are a good team.

“But it is important to be effective when you get the chance because the game can open up for you.

“We needed a little more width and a much more desire to get the ball into the box and into good areas on Saturday when we played Kilmarnock. We were flat all over the final third but Thursday is so different. It is a different game and you have to remember that we have played a lot of good games offensively this season.”

Scott Brown and Kris Commons are both fighting to be fit for the visit of De Boer’s side. Deila was confident that the Celtic captain will be fine, while Commons’ situation will be looked at in greater detail today.

With Stefan Johansen and the influential Nir Bitton suspended, there is additional reason for Deila to get the players fit and ready.

“Whatever happens we have a strong squad and we will put out a strong midfield, but we are hopeful,” said Deila. “We know what Scott and Kris bring to the team – they have experience of playing at the highest European level and that can be so important.

“I think Scott should be OK. We will wait on Kris. We know their qualities.”

Should they fail to make it, Gary Mackay-Steven may find himself drafted into the starting XI.

The former Dundee United winger has never quite found his form this season and he looked particularly out of sorts against Kilmarnock at the weekend.

His confidence appears to have been affected by his recent poor form and Deila admitted that the 24-year-old needs a lift.

“He has been very good in training lately but that was maybe a tough game for him to come into on Saturday,” said the Celtic manager. “He maybe needs us to build him up a little but he will get there.

“There is always a lot of pressure here and it can be tough when you are going through a time when things are not happening for you. But we are confident that he will come through it.”