JOHN Collins has welcomed the strong challenge for the Ladbrokes Premiership which Aberdeen have launched this season. The Celtic assistant manager sparked a storm of controversy last month when he suggested that playing in Scotland was detrimental to the Parkhead club defensively in European competition.

“No disrespect to teams here, but they’re not clever enough players or quick enough thinkers to punish us,” he said in a frank interview which prompted an angry response from, among others, Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.

Since then, Celtic have fallen five points behind Aberdeen, who beat them 2-1 at Pittodrie last weekend. Questions are being asked if they can win their fourth Premiership in succession.

Yet, Collins feels that having a meaningful title race will be hugely beneficial to Ronny Deila’s team, who drew 2-2 with Ajax in Amsterdam in their opening Group A match in the Europa League on Wednesday evening.

“I think it’s good for Celtic and good for Scottish football,” he said. “It definitely brings an edge to it.”

Celtic have conceded soft goals at set-pieces on several occasions this season – to Malmo in both legs, to Aberdeen in the Premiership and to Ajax in the Europa League.

Collins admitted the Glasgow club would have to perform far better in that department if they are going to retain the Scottish title and make it through to the last 32 of the Europa League for the second season running.

“You have to give them [Ajax] credit,” he said. “But we can definitely defend better and that’s our objective – to stop the crosses coming in and, when they do come in, to defend them better.

“Obviously we’re disappointed, but it was a great ball and very difficult to defend, whipped into a dangerous area. Just the slightest touch and it goes in, but obviously we could have pushed out a little bit more.

“Last season we hardly conceded any goals from set-pieces and every team goes through these periods when you concede goals. We don’t like it and we work on it, but we’re doing nothing different from last season in our set-up.”

Collins feels the new-look defence which Deila has put together this season – Dedryck Boyata, Jozo Simunovic, Saidy Janko and Tyler Blackett all featured in the Amsterdam ArenA – is partially responsible for the problems Celtic have experienced at the back.

“That’s exactly what it is,” he said. “Communication is important. Don’t wait on the ball. You’ve got to go and meet the ball in that danger area. You’ve got to go and head it.”

Blackett, the Manchester United player who is on loan at Celtic this season, came on at left-back in the second half of the Ajax game after Emilio Izaguirre was red-carded.

Despite being unable to prevent Frank de Boer’s side from scoring an equaliser with six minutes remaining through Lasse Schone, the 21-year-old enjoyed the experience of being involved in a European match for the first time.

He is convinced the move to Scotland will improve him as a player and enable him to force his way into United manager Louis van Gaal’s plans when he returns to Old Trafford next season.

That is even though a place in the United team has become available due to Luke Shaw suffering an horrific leg break in the 2-1 defeat at PSV Eindhoven last week.

“I texted him,” said Blackett. “I am sure a lot of the players did. I told him to come back strong and keep his head up. Obviously it is difficult when you see somebody in that position who you know and have played with. He is a friend. The younger players in the team always speak. We are all quite close.”

The former England Under-21 international, who played in 12 first- team games for United last season, has no regrets about agreeing to move to Celtic. “United have got a lot of good players and a lot of experience in these positions,” he said.

“I need to play games. I have always been more training than playing so now it is time for me to play games, gain some form and try to improve as a player. So that is what I am trying to do.

“The manager [Van Gaal] said it would be good for my improvement as a player personally. It will help me develop and play for Manchester United which is what I am trying to do.

“I need to play games and it is difficult to play for United at the minute. To come here and play games is going to be good for me.”

Blackett made his Celtic debut at left-back against Aberdeen at Pittodrie last week and was taken aback by the pace of play. He was partially to blame for the late goal his side conceded. But the experience has convinced him he has made the right decision for his future.

“I was surprised in a way,” he said. “It is obviously different from the Premier League. That game in particular was quicker and more physical and I’m not used to that. But I need to get used to it, I guess.

“It has been a tough start for me, but this is what I have come to gain experience for, to play in these sort of games. It is something which I have not had a lot of at United and I am keen to try to do that.

“Last season I basically played centre-back for the whole season. To come in at left-back is obviously new for me. But it is something which I have to got to try to adapt to and I have got to try to do well with every opportunity I get.”