Leigh Griffiths can get even better for Celtic, says Ronny Deila.
Ronny Deila has told The Glasgow Evening Times that Celtic hitman Leigh Griffiths can “go up another level” if he irons out the creases in his behaviour.
The 26-year-old striker will miss the first leg of the Hoops’ Champions League qualifier with Rosenborg after being handed a one-match ban for tying a Celtic scarf to a goal post after the club’s fiery clash with Linfield – a predominantly protestant club – last week.
The Scottish champions have also been fined £4,000 by UEFA for the incident, which was not the first time that the ex-Hibernian man made headlines for the wrong reasons.
Griffiths has previously been reprimanded by the Scottish Football Association for swearing at fans.
He is certainly a divisive character but Deila says that the Scotland international – who has 56 Celtic goals in his last 52 starts for the club – can get even better if he keeps his nose out of trouble going forward.
“I seen over the last few months one or two things that Brendan has said, and it is the same view that I had,” he told The GET.
“He is a great guy, a really funny and likeable boy, but if he wants to get the best out of his talent then he has to live his life in the right way.
“He can still go up another level but you have to be prepared to sacrifice everything to get there.”
Griffiths, who scored 40 goals in all competitions during the 2015-16 campaign, which was Deila’s last season in charge of the Bhoys, managed 12 Premiership goals in 15 starts last season.
He is clearly an exceptional goalscorer and it makes sense for Celtic, and indeed manager Brendan Rodgers, if he cleans up his act a tad.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
