Ronny Deila: A dozen days that could leave Celtic manager facing the sack

A desperately poor Europa League defeat in his native Norway to Molde, coupled with Kris Commons’s rant at the coaching staff after his second-half substitution, leaves him under pressure

Ronny Deila sits on the bench before Celtic'sEuropa League Group A match against Molde (Reuters)

The Premiership will present a sporting curiosity this weekend: a league in which the managers of the top two sides find themselves under greater pressure and scrutiny than those in charge of the basement dwellers.

On Saturday, Aberdeen – reeling from four straight defeats and defensive disarray – host Motherwell desperate for a victory to breathe new life into a season that has stalled badly after a flying start. Derek McInnes needs a win before next weekend’s trip to Parkhead.

The Aberdeen manager, though, is not under threat of losing his job. Down at Parkhead, on the other hand – where Celtic entertain Dundee United on Sunday – Ronny Deila finds his position under intense scrutiny. A desperately poor defeat in his native Norway to Molde, coupled with Kris Commons’s rant at the coaching staff after his second-half substitution, leaves him under pressure.

There is no immediate danger of Deila being sent home, but he faces a dozen days that could change that.

After United, Celtic face Hearts in the League Cup quarter-finals, followed by Aberdeen and then the return fixture with Molde on Bonfire Night. The worrying evidence is that this is a Celtic team fashioned by Deila that is not only not good enough for the Champions League but also out of their depth in the level below.

But to start at the beginning – Celtic need victory on Sunday, a good one, and not just because United are bottom of the table. They need a good start to the match and a good win to stop the murmurings of discontent turning into something louder. Peter Lawwell, the chief executive, is held by many to be at fault for the squad, and funds, he has provided for the manager, but Deila, and his players, have to take responsibility for what has happened against supposed sub-standard opponents.

Celtic have won five of their last 11 games, a return that is not acceptable for a one the Old Firm. At the heart of it has been defensive indecision over selection and then out on the pitch.

Over those 11 games, Deila has sent out 10 different back fours. Not since August has he named a quartet for successive games. He has been hindered by the loss of Virgil van Dijk and injury to his replacement Jozo Simunovic as well as Charlie Mulgrew.

Since Van Dijk’s departure, Deila has used six different centre-half pairings – on Thursday he recalled Efe Ambrose to partner Dedryck Boyata. The Belgium keeps on giving the ball away, Ambrose keeps on giving goals away. Simunovic should be fit to return on Sunday.

Aberdeen’s mini-implosion is timely for Deila, although were McInnes’s men to win this afternoon, Celtic would kick-off back in second place. “I really understand their frustrations,” said Deila of the disgruntled elements among the Celtic support. “We have to move on and make it good again, starting on Sunday.”