No such thing as the ideal draw for Deila's men

Liverpool was his team and John Barnes his idol on the playing field. While Deila's side and the English giants share a kinship and a fondness for Gerry and the Pacemakers, they will be kept apart in the next round by a seeded draw, at least by the time continental action resumes he will have outlasted his idol as Celtic manager.

"I was a Liverpool fan," said Deila, whose side return to domestic matters this lunchtime against St Mirren. "So, good years when I was young, hard times when I was older! John Barnes was my favourite and of course it would be a special moment to go to Anfield because I understand that there is a good relationship between Celtic and Liverpool."

Deila's affection for the club continues to this day, the Norwegian taking time out from Stromsgodset last season to check out their training methods in person. "I've been to Anfield five or six times," Deila said. "Last year I also went to speak with Brendan Rodgers and watched Liverpool's training. I was really impressed with his thinking, he's a good guy. The training was of a very high level. Now, he's had difficulties when the Champions League has come into it. He's also lost important players and spent a lot of money. I've always said that it's much more secure to keep than to buy."

Liverpool are not the only English side in the last 32, however. Celtic could encounter their cross-city rivals Everton, whose manager Roberto Martinez said last week that he would savour a visit to Parkhead, are one potential opponent and would attract added attention due to the presence in their side of Aiden McGeady and Steven Naismith. Internazionale and Feyenoord are among the bigger names that could await, whilst Legia Warsaw, who disposed of Celtic easily in the Champions League qualifiers early in Deila's tenure - only to be disqualified from the competition over a player registration breach - would offer grudge match potential.

"Everton would be the opposite of Liverpool," added Deila, "But they would be exciting as well. Everton are a good team but I think there are other teams that are easier than them."

Celtic, of course, have defeated major European sides at Parkhead in the recent past - think Barcelona or Manchester United - but on most occasions it has been a well-executed rearguard action. Deila is idealistic enough to dream of changing that blueprint, even if he concedes that they may never be equipped to pass teams of a truly elite standard off the park.

"It's much more difficult to attack than defend," said Deila. "To defend is to ruin the opponent and that is much easier. Being creative is my biggest task here, to create a system where we can keep teams under pressure and open them up. That takes time and that is my dream, as I said the first time I came here, to be at Celtic Park against a good, big opponent and to keep them under pressure, win the game and excite the fans.

"To do that to Barcelona is very hard and that's not what I'm aiming for but just to play forward and have a lot of moments in the last third so we can break through - a bit like Red Bull Salzburg have shown they are capable of [against Celtic in the group stages]. Again it's a change of style and we have seen signs we are getting there but in Europe the level is much higher and we have to compromise."

The Celtic manager, meanwhile, hopes to see a spin-off in the transfer market from their extended involvement in continental competition. "Being in the last 32 of the Europa League could tip the balance in a potential transfer," he said. "It could be vital. There are a lot of players at big clubs who aren't close to playing. To come to Celtic with this stadium, these supporters and this history? Add to that, the Europa League and a fight for the Treble - it has to be tempting. If you can't get motivation from that, I think you must try something else."