RONNY DEILA has revealed he has set his Celtic players the same “tough goals” as last year and said he wants a domestic clean sweep along with a place in the Champions League.
After taking over from Neil Lennon last summer, Deila guided his team to the Premiership and League Cup double, but failed on two separate occasions to reach the group stages of Europe’s elite competition.
The Hoops were beaten 6-1 on aggregate by Legia Warsaw, but were reinstated after the Polish club were thrown out for an administrative error, only to then lose to Slovenian outfit Maribor in the play-off.
Celtic host Icelandic side Stjarnan in the first leg of their opening Champions League qualifying tie at Parkhead tonight and Deila hopes it can be the start of an even more successful season.
He said: “The goals are the same as they were last year. We want to get into the Champions League; we want to win everything in Scotland.
“We want to improve the culture and the players individually and as a team so we can play exciting football.
“They are tough goals, but you have to put tough goals on a fantastic club. That is what we are aiming for and we will see what we get.
“The most important thing is winning the league so we keep on being in Europe, but, of course, if we can get into the Champions League, that is a very important goal for us.
“The group stages are a step forward. That is the first target. If we get in we can talk about the next step.
“But now it is all about the qualification and getting in.”
