The former Celtic manager never squared off with Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers at Parkhead.
Former Celtic manager Ronny Deila has admitted via The Daily Record that he would have liked to have taken on Rangers at Parkhead.
Both Glasgow rivals renew hostilities at Paradise on Saturday for what will be the first league meeting between the duo since 2012.
Had things worked out differently, it might have been Deila getting ready for Saturday’s visit of Rangers, but it is his successor Brendan Rodgers, who replaced him at Celtic back in May.
Deila came up against the Gers on two occasions during his two-year stint with the Hoops – a League Cup victory in 2015, and a Scottish Cup semi-final defeat in April.
But Hampden Park played host to both encounters, and the Norwegian concedes that it would’ve been “fantastic” to have managed a match against the old enemy at Celtic Park.
Nevertheless, Deila, whose wife is expecting a baby, says he hopes to return to the stadium as a fan this weekend for easily the biggest game of the season so far.
“If things are right, I will try to and be there with him [his father, Arne] as it will be a big, big game,” he said via The Record. “I have my own memories of the matches against Rangers which I won’t forget.
“One of the matches went the right way for us and the other one did not but the experiences were really something. Both of the games were at Hampden, so I never got the chance to have one at Celtic Park.
“To have been in charge of a Celtic team against Rangers in a game there would have been fantastic.”
Victory would see Rangers leapfrog Celtic – who have played one game less – at the top of the Premiership.
Rangers fans
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