GLASGOW: Celtic manager Ronny Deila has backed his side to bounce back from their disappointing draw with Motherwell when they take on Hearts in the Scottish League Cup today.
A poor first half display meant the Hoops had to come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park.
The Glasgow giants now go into today’s clash with Hearts with just one win in their past seven games while the Jambos sit top of the Scottish Championship as they bid to bounce straight back up following relegation last season.
However, Deila says he is confident his side will respond accordingly and get back to winning ways.
“We will be meeting a good team at Celtic Park and can bounce back in just a few days after a bad performance,” the Celtic manager said.
“I’m really looking forward to the game. Our dream is to win the Treble. So this cup is important to us and we are going to go with our strongest team in this game.”
Club captain Scott Brown believes Celtic will soon hit full stride once the new players brought in by Deila adjust to life at the club.
The Scottish champions have made a stuttering start to the season but midfielder Brown insists progress is being made.
“It’s hard for people coming into this squad,” the Celtic captain said.
“There are a lot of people who have been here for a few years and struggled when they first came into the squad, including myself. Everyone knows how hard it is to come into it.
“There are a lot of new faces, so it will take a little while to gel together but it’s definitely coming as it’s been coming on the training field, and hopefully we can do that in matches as well.
“It’s only one bad performance in the last couple of games. We have been getting better and better.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Dundee United host Dundee at Tannadice in the second Dundee derby in just three days.
United brought their city rivals’ unbeaten start to the season to an emphatic end on Sunday as they triumphed 4-1 at Dens Park to go top of the table and will be favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.
High-flying Hamilton take on Motherwell at New Douglas Park in the first Lanarkshire derby of the season as both sides battle it out for a place in the last eight. Hamilton are unbeaten in seven matches while Motherwell will take heart from their weekend draw with Motherwell.
Meanwhile, Lille captain and France international midfielder Rio Mavuba will be out of action for up to four weeks with a right thigh injury, the northern French club has announced.
The 30-year-old sustained a muscle tear late in the Ligue 1 0-0 draw against Montpellier.
Mavuba, a member of the France team that took part in the World Cup in Brazil, will miss at least three Ligue 1 matches, against Nice, Bastia and Lyon, as well as a Europa League game against Wolfsburg.AFP
