RONNY Deila said last night that he would understand it if his cup-tied stars Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven decided to skip today's League Cup final.
Celtic will contest the first silverware of the season against Dundee United at Hampden Park this afternoon without their two January arrivals, who joined on deadline day for a combined outlay of £2m after featuring in every match of the Tannadice side's run. While the duo offer a source of inside information, they declined to attend the controversial Scottish Cup match between the two sides last Sunday, and the Norwegian said he would have no qualms if they also decided to give today's match the body swerve.
"Of course we have asked them about them [United], but they were not at the game last weekend, they were at home, so I think it's also important to treat them with respect," said Deila. "They still have feelings for United so it is tough for them. I don't know if they'll be there or not at Hampden. It will be if they want to. If they don't? I'll understand. It's their call."
Meanwhile, Deila's opposite number Jackie McNamara last night revealed his secret history as a Dundee United player as he prepares to lead the Tannadice club to back-to-back cup finals for the first time since the Jim McLean era. As an aspiring 13-year-old, McNamara was an unlikely participant in one of the most famous days in the life of the club, featuring for a Dundee United select in an exhibition match immediately prior to the 1987 Uefa Cup second leg against IFK Goteborg. A 1-1 draw against the Swedes was unable to overturn the club's 1-0 first leg disadvantage, and with none of those famously lengthy contract offers forthcoming from McLean, McNamara went out to carve out a fine career at Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic instead. With McLean in failing health these days, the two men have not met since McNamara was installed as manager, but the current Dundee United boss still reflected last night on what might have been.
"I remember as a kid playing for a United select on the Tannadice pitch before the Gothenburg game," said McNamara. "It was a long time ago now but I went up with a select crew from Edinburgh and the west.
"I was about 14 and we wore the United kit," he added. "I'm sure Allan Johnston and a few other guys played in that game. I didn't get a contract offer from Jim, though. I was training with a few clubs back then - United, Hibs and Dunfermline. I was always aware of Jim McLean and United's success when I was younger - the Barcelona games and that final stick out. It was a tremendous achievement and to be at that final as a young kid was a great experience."
While Deila's parents Arne and Tove travel to Scotland for the match - "they have become crazy Celtic fans" - McNamara will be watched by his proud father Jackie Snr, just one week after the son was panicked into calling his dad up amid wild rumours that his father had passed away. "He always says good luck son but he'll be nervous," said McNamara. "I came out on to the pitch on Sunday to see him sitting in the box and wave at him. It was just good to see him as I had a call on Saturday night from one of the media saying he was dead, it was an incredible rumour.
"I don't know how the rumour started," he added. "I was watching telly in the hotel the night before the game. Joe [Rice, the club's PR man] phoned me and obviously I've panicked and phoned my dad and he's sitting watching the telly. Football was secondary at that point."
Unlike United's last final, the Scottish Cup defeat to St Johnstone in May, all the pressure will be stacked on Celtic, for what could be the first leg of only the fourth treble in the club's history. McNamara was a Celtic player the last time the Parkhead side recorded a domestic clean sweep, scoring the opener in the Scottish Cup final win against Hibs. Deila remembers cup final defeat in Norway as a player but radiates positivity. "Of course, I'm under pressure," said Deila. "I'm under pressure all the time - and the pressure mainly comes from within. I hate losing, and the worst thing is to lose cup finals. I've done that before and it's a terrible, terrible thing. When I was a player with Odd Grenland, we lost 1-0 in the final to Valerenga - we should have won but we were very poor. We just have to do everything we can to have a good performance. Then if Dundee United beat us, it's easier to accept. But I know we have a good chance because we are a good team."
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