Thursday, 14th August, 2014
Ronny Deila was impressed with Celtic’s second half display in his side’s 3-0 win over St Johnstone in their Scottish Premiership opener last night.
After a goalless first half at McDiarmid Park, the Hoops broke the deadlock through Anthony Stokes in the 55th minute.
Nir Biton then doubled the champions’ advantage from the spot in the 76th minute before Callum McGregor rounded off the scoring eight minutes later.
And Deila, who was not pleased with Celtic’s performance in the first half, felt his side’s display after the break was a “step in the right direction.”
The manager was also happy with the fact that Celtic managed to bag the full three points despite not playing the best football.
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“The first 20 minutes of the first half was ok but the last 25 minutes of it wasn’t the way I want to see my team”, Deila told the club’s official site.
“But in the second half we started to up the intensity and pressure and got more movement. It opened them up more and in the end we got the chances we needed and won the game.
“The second half was more like how I want to see my team, but we need to work more on the fitness and pattern and transition to improve. But that will come.
“I am calm tonight but I’m not unbelievably happy as I don’t think we performed fantastically – but we are on our way.
“I have absorbed a lot and observed the way we played before and how we want to play. It takes time, and this what I have been saying all the time.
“Tonight wasn’t perfect but the second half was a step in the right direction, and I know it’s going to be very good in a few months.”
Celtic will next face Dundee United in a home fixture on Saturday before travelling to Inverness CT a week later.
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