POSITIVE DEILA

RONNY DEILA concentrated on the positives from Celtic’s 1-0 defeat against PSV Eindhoven in the Maspalmomas Cup on Saturday.

Hoops kids Aidan Nesbitt and Joe Thomson made their first team debuts as second-half replacements for Callum McGregor and John Guidetti.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska also shone with a string of saves in the absence of Craig Gordon.

Deila said: “I think it was quite an even game. We played a good opponent and that’s why we’ve come here.
“It was even in possession and chances, but we got something out of it.
“The pitch wasn’t the best, but that was the same for PSV.
“It was a bit of a messy game and we had to fight hard to get the ball back when we lost it so it was a test for a lot of players.
“PSV are a good team. They’re very offensive, but we coped well with it.
“We didn’t have the final quality to win the game, but we got what we wanted out of it.”

The Celtic boss praised his new boys, including midfielder Jamie Lindsay.
Deila said: “Aidan and Joe made their debuts and Jamie Lindsay also got some minutes.
“It’s good for them to have done that and, hopefully, they’ll get motivation from having that chance.
“It was dry and not the best, but we got a game and we didn’t have any major injuries.
“We played against a good team and that’s why we came here, so I’m happy with that.”

Captain Scott Brown was substituted early on after taking a face knock, but Deila added: “It was just a cut. A couple of stitches and, hopefully, he’ll be back next weekend.”

The SPFL champions now face Sparta Prague on Tuesday in the final game of their winter break in Gran Canaria before returning to face Hamilton at New Douglas Park on Saturday.