Celtic manager Ronny Deila has put his trust in his side to see off Malmo in tonight's Champions League play-off tie. After passing up on two chances to reach the group stages last season after taking over from Neil Lennon - Celtic lost to Slovenian outfit Maribor in the play-off after being reinstated - the Norwegian is confident that his players, who recovered to win the Premiership and Scottish League Cup, are now ready to clear the final hurdle. Speaking at Celtic Park ahead of the first leg on Wednesday night, he said: "I trust my team. We have played a lot of games now and I almost can't remember the last time we lost a game. The team is in good shape with a lot of confidence. So we will see how it is against Malmo. We want Champions League. I have said that since coming into this club. Now we have two games to reach it. We just have to be the best we can be. If we do that and not succeed, then we are not good enough and you have to go on. But if we are at our best it is going to be tough for Malmo as well."
The Celtic manager knows how tough the task will be against a side which reached the group stages for the first time last season, under the tutelage of fellow Norwegian, Age Hareide. The former Stromsgodset manager said: "Malmo have done well in the last two, three years. I have big respect for the club. They have developed a lot of good football players over the years. They lost some players last season but they have added new players and some from the academy as well. We are going to face an experienced opponent. They had a fantastic period in the eighties with Roy Hodgson and now lately with Age, and given what they did last year it is going to be a tough game. But we know also, that we are Celtic and that we are a big club in Europe. We have had a good season so far and are well prepared for the game."
Striker Nadir Ciftci, who has served four games of a six-game domestic ban, is available and midfielder Kris Commons has shrugged off a dead leg. Deila has yet to decide if midfielder Scott Allan, who joined from Hibs on Friday, will play any part in the game. He said: "We will see. He is among the 20 so we will see if he takes part tomorrow. I am happy to get him into the squad."
Jo Inge Berget suffered Champions League misery with Celtic last year and is determined not to experience it again with Malmo. The forward was brought on loan from Cardiff City by fellow Norwegian Deila last summer and suffered some early European disappointment. Berget left the Glasgow club in January after just two goals in eight appearances and has resurrected his career with the Swedish champions, who reached the group stages of the competition for the first time last season. Speaking on his return to Parkhead ahead of the first leg of the play-off tonight, he said: "I remember last year - Malmo went to the Champions League but I didn't. I went out twice. It was a bad feeling, those four games. I reckon that feeling is easy for the Celtic players to find. They don't want to experience that again and I don't want to experience that feeling again. I want to go in the Champions League and I know the Celtic players want to do the same. My two goals here in my home debut - and I am hoping to be able to do that again (tonight). It is good to be back and I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow. I think it will be a good game. Regarding the five or six months here, I enjoyed the first bit of it. It started all right but after a while it lacked in game time. I didn't get to play much after that and so it ended how it ended."
Malmo head coach Age Hareide will be without captain Markus Rosenberg and midfielder Enoch Kofi Adu, both of whom are suspended. The Norwegian believes having the return game in Sweden next Tuesday is to Malmo's advantage. But having experienced a big European night at Celtic Park when his Helsingborg side were beaten 2-0 by the Hoops in a Champions League play-off in 2012 to go out 4-0 on aggregate, he is looking forward to the first leg. He said: "I think it is much better to take the second game at home. That gives us a different control. I know that most of the coaches want to start away from home. But it is fantastic to come out here with the fans backing the team. When you play games in front of almost empty stands I always think of Celtic Park. It is so important for football. It is second best to watch it on television. Celtic are the favourites tomorrow and the result will determine who will be the favourites for the game in Malmo."