Ronny Deila 'disappointed' to concede a goal in last second
Ronny Deila is confident Celtic can see out their Champions League play-off against Malmo next week despite losing a late and possibly crucial goal in the 3-2 first-leg win over the Swedish club.
The Scottish champions raced into a two-goal lead in just 10 minutes at Parkhead thanks to striker Leigh Griffiths and midfielder Nir Bitton, and the rampant Hoops could have been out of sight by the break.
However, Jo Inge Berget, who had a short and unsuccessful loan spell at Parkhead last season, pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute.
And although Griffiths headed in his second in the 61st minute to make it 3-1, former Molde and Cardiff attacker Berget pounced again in the fifth of five added minutes to make the prospect of the return match in Sweden more fraught than it ought to have been.
However, Celtic boss Deila said: “Of course we can beat Malmo away. But they have to beat us and that is a positive thing.
“It could be a better result but it was an okay result. They have to attack us and that can suit us.
“I am disappointed, of course, to concede a goal in the last second but it happened. We are one goal ahead and they have to beat us in Malmo.
“They scored almost with the only two chances they had which is disappointing, but we have to see after the second leg.
“We played well at the start of the game, we were all over them and scored two goals. So it was a little bit disappointing in the end but I have belief that we can do it in Malmo.”
On Berget returning to haunt the Hoops, Deila said: “It doesn’t hurt more. That’s how it is. The first goal was a very good shot, credit to him, but we should have stopped it before it got to him.”
When asked which side were now favourites to get through to the group stages, Malmo coach Age Hareide said: “At home? Malmo.
“We have a very good chance to beat them at home now and we only need one goal.
“We will attack them and play our normal game and hopefully it will be enough.”
