IT really needs to be third time lucky for Ronny Deila when it comes to qualifying for the Champions League.

A first season in charge of Celtic could well end with three trophies filling the Parkhead trophy cabinet, with the League Cup already won and his team in a strong position to add both the SPFL Premiership and the Scottish Cup. Any analysis of Deila's maiden campaign in Scottish football, however, would have to make reference of the fact that Celtic had two cracks at reaching the group phase of the Champions League early in his tenure and failed to take either of them. They can't afford to do the same next time around.

Celtic failing to make it past Legia Warsaw in the qualifiers - and then Maribor once the Poles had been disqualified due to an administrative error - was partially excused because Deila had not long been in the door. The Norwegian had only been manager for a month by the time the opening qualifying tie against KR Reykjavik rolled around, a fact held up in mitigation by those who felt he had been ill-prepared in his attempts to guide his new team through three rounds and into the group stage.

It is not an excuse that will wash this summer should Celtic once more fall short. Assuming they finish the season as domestic champions, they would again need to safely work their way through three qualifying rounds. UEFA's announcement this week that the prize pot will rise for clubs who make it to the group stage would surely only have served as further motivation - not that Celtic or Deila really need it.

Their case is not helped by international fixtures rumbling into the close season, with Scott Brown, Craig Gordon, and Leigh Griffiths all likely to be involved when Scotland take on the Republic of Ireland on June 13, a month almost to the day before the second qualifying round of the Champions League gets underway on July 14. Deila has repeatedly highlighted the importance of his players being sufficiently rested and, to that end, he will look to greatly alter the club's traditional pre-season routine.

With expat fans spread all across the globe, Celtic have tended to travel to take part in lucrative friendlies in North America, Asia or Australasia. This time, though, Deila plans on spending more time closer to home - and revealed chief executive Peter Lawwell is also on board with that.

"Our pre-season is not going to be the same [as before]," Deila said. "We are going to play fewer games, travel less and really prepare for those games. I want to do it differently than we did it last year. I think we did way too much travelling [to Austria, Germany and Finland] and played way too many games. It is not positive to play games with half a team and lose 5-1 and 6-1. It is not positive for the confidence and the atmosphere in the club. We don't like to lose.

"We haven't decided 100 percent but I think we are going to stay here for the first 14 days and have games around here. We will have a couple of games that we go away to play, maybe two or three. So less travelling, more calm. Players will have been abroad on vacation and will come back and prepare the right way and play games here.

"Peter is with me. We are on the same lines so that hasn't been a problem. We are talking about the United States but then everything has to be perfect there. I think we are going to stay here."

Deila is already focused on ensuring Celtic are in the best shape to reach the Champions League. "We have to be more prepared than we were this season," he added. "I know we are going to be. They are knockout ties in the qualifiers, so anything can happen. We just need to do everything as well as possible so the preparation is 100 per cent. There is even more money now in the Champions League. So to get a good team to compete in that tournament is everything. It is more important than selling players. Our prime target is Champions League and we have to do what is best for the club. Our dream and hope is to get to the Scottish Cup Final and win it. If we do that, then we will be playing our last game of this season on May 30.

"After the cup final, the players will get three weeks' holiday. If they are playing internationals in June, they will get one week more. So players like Broony and Stefan [Johansen] would come back on July 1. In three weeks, you can't ruin too much. It is just positive for their bodies to rest. They know what is coming when they come back to training. We have to do what is best for the team. If we don't reach it then we will have done everything we can. If we are not good enough then we have to look for a new coach then!"

Deila is keen to see his players wrap up the league title as soon as possible and hopes to lay down a marker against bottom side St Mirren this evening.

"The games coming up now are important but we have good momentum now. We are playing good football, we train well, there is good harmony in the squad. I am comfortable we are going to keep performing well."