Celtic 4-0 Motherwell: Deila delighted with side's form

Image source, SNS

Image caption, Celtic manager Ronny Deila is happy to return to the top of the Premiership table
  • Author, Colin Moffat
  • Role, 91热爆 Scotland

Manager Ronny Deila thinks Celtic will be hard to stop if they maintain the impressive form that saw Motherwell swept aside.

A 4-0 victory takes the defending champions back to top spot in the Premiership with a game in hand.

In a thoroughly one-sided encounter, Mikael Lustig scored a second-half brace, following goals from Virgil van Dijk and Leigh Griffiths.

"We want to be number one and now everything is in our hands," said Deila. "If we win every game we are champions.

"That's the best position we can have. There are a lot of games to come, so we just have to keep on performing like today.

"In Scotland, Celtic can win every game. We are favourites whoever me meet, wherever we meet."

It was an 11th league win in 13 outings for Celtic and, with players such as Lustig, James Forrest and Charlie Mulgrew coming back from injury, Deila believes his team is improving at just the right time.

Image source, SNS

Image caption, Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough wants his side to be braver on the ball

"I feel more comfortable now," he said. "I trust the team more because we are growing more and more together and understand what we expect of each other.

"If we keep up like that it's going to be hard to beat us.

"We can still win everything and that's a good feeling. It's very exciting, so the players step it up. We are determined and looking forward to every game."

Motherwell, without injured captain Keith Lasley, are now just two points better off than 11th-placed St Mirren.

Fir Park manager Ian Baraclough had no issue with his team's effort at Celtic Park but wants to see a grittier streak in his players.

"No-one is kidding themselves," he said. "We are part of that group of three that are fighting for our lives.

"If you are going to get beaten, you go down with a fight.

"We worked ever so hard. I don't think there is any doubt the players put in a real shift but you can be more aggressive in those one-v-one challenges.

"We also want people who are positive on the ball because that's what is going to get you out of it.

"We gave it away too cheaply and the options for the guy on the ball weren't good enough."