DAVIE MOYES was sitting in the stands at Murrayfield last season when Celtic lost 2-0 to Legia Warsaw and crashed out of Champions League qualifying 6-2 on aggregate.
Some doubted their new manager, Ronny Deila, was up to the task.
The Parkhead side were reinstated to the competition when it emerged the Polish club had fielded an ineligible player, only to be knocked out for a second time, by Maribor. More pressure on Deila.
However, he was given time by the Parkhead hierarchy and delivered the SPFL Premiership, League Cup and a Europa League last-32 slot.
Moyes, dismissed last year by Manchester United after only nine months in charge, was delighted the Norwegian coach was allowed a proper period of time to enable him to stamp his authority.
Moyes is back in football, managing Real Sociedad, and arrived in Scotland yesterday for a training camp at the St Andrews Old Course Resort and games against Celtic, St Johnstone and Livingston.
Moyes' team play Celtic tonight and Deila knows the Spanish side will provide a stern test, exactly what he wants ahead of the Parkhead club's opening Champions League qualifier against FC Stjarnan next midweek.
Moyes is looking forward to the friendly and said: "The game against Celtic is probably a little too early for us but it was too good an opportunity to miss. I was looking forward to going back to Celtic Park but the game is at St Mirren's stadium. I'm sure there will be a good atmosphere.
"Ronny Deila pretty much achieved what was asked of him in his first season. He is a young coach and had never worked in the UK so he had to be given time to adjust and for his ideas to be implemented.
"Being the manager of Celtic is a huge job and very few will be able to understand the enormity of the task and the day-to-day attention and focus on the manager. Taking all things into account, I think he had a very good first season. He won the league and also made good signings."
Moyes added: "He has some very important fixtures coming up and there will be a determination to qualify for the Champions League group stage. Celtic have enjoyed good times in the competition in the past 15 years and got to the last 16 under Neil Lennon.
"The supporters crave being involved at that level and it's important to get through the qualifiers.
"Ronny, his backroom staff and the players will also want to be there after missing out last season. It's also vital, I feel, for Scottish football to be represented in the group stage. Our country deserves a presence there.
"The financial rewards are also huge for Celtic and it keeps the money rolling in. I wish them well and hope they make it."
Moyes has been in charge of Sociedad for eight months. When he took over, there was concern they might be relegated but he guided them to 12th in La Liga with some fine results including a 1-0 win over Barcelona.
Moyes, who is assisted by his fellow Scot Billy McKinlay, said: "I always wanted to bring La Real to Scotland for pre-season. I went to St Andrews a couple of times with Everton and it is a wonderful location with excellent facilities.
"Apart from the Celtic game, we have friendlies against St Johnstone and Livingston. We will be tested.
"We haven't signed any players yet but we're very close to adding one or two. By the end of the transfer window I hope to have strengthened the squad by adding at least three new faces."
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