Ronny Deila claims he will fulfil a major ambition if he can guide Celtic into the Champions League group stages tomorrow night at Parkhead. Celtic play NK Maribor in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying play-off having earned a 1-1 draw in Slovenia last week. Celtic are determined to take their opportunity having been awarded a 3-0 victory against Legia Warsaw in the previous round, when the Polish side were excluded from the competition after fielding an ineligible player. Deila has been happy with his squad‘s preparation, but is not taking anything for granted for a tie which should be played in front of a near-capacity Celtic Park.
Deila said: "It is a dream to have the opportunity to play in the Champions League. It is the biggest tournament, the highest level in football so it is Christmas and happy new year at the same time. It is going to be a huge game and a huge experience. I feel ready and the team is ready as well. So I am looking forward to it. We have a new chance to get into the Champions League and we have to do everything we can to use that chance well. It will be a full stadium, an unbelievable atmosphere and we will do everything we can to make that atmosphere even better. We have to perform for two games. We did well in the first leg and it is going to be a hard second leg. But we have everything to win. It is important to start well and get the crowd with you but you have to play tactically well and have balance in the team. Maribor played very tactically at home and they will do the same here. They were very easy to read but very hard to stop because they are very good on the counter-attack. They are a well-organised, hard-working team so it is very important that we also have the same focus. We have to press together and we have to be compact. We want to attack and be offensive but in a clever way."