RONNY Deila has issued a rousing call-to-arms plea to the Celtic supporters by asking them to show they are the best in the world at Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Qarabag.
The Azerbaijani title holders will arrive in Glasgow in confident mood, having previously defeated teams such as Salzburg, Celtic’s Europa League opponents last season, and taking Inter Milan all the way in last year’s qualification campaign.
Deila reckons the Hoops have enough in their ranks to get a win at home, but stressed that the fans’ backing will be crucial to achieving that.
He said: “It’s a big step up. We’re talking about a very good football team here that has done very well in the Europa League.
“They beat Dnipro and drew with Inter Milan as well so we need to be up at the Inter Milan level to beat them and that’ll be a fantastic challenge for us.
“The friendly against Rennes this afternoon is a good thing and we will use the squad wisely in preparation for Wednesday, but we will also get some playing time for the men who haven’t played so much.
“We need the fans in Celtic Park on Wednesday. That’s so unbelievably important because to play at Celtic Park against 60,000 home fans is the worst thing you could do as an opponent.
“We have to use everything we have now to make a good result in the first leg. Hopefully, everybody understands that the fans are so important in this game, to get that intensity into the game that we need.
“Of course, it strikes fear in everybody and we have the best fans in the world. That’s what we have to show on Wednesday.
”We are a very good football team and we have had good results now in the last six months. We’re improving all the time and we are a good unit.
“Playing at Celtic Park is never easy, as well, so they are going to face a good team and a big club and we’re going to show ourselves on Wednesday. It’s going to tough to beat us.”
