In a remarkable display of candor and frustration, Club Brugge manager Ronny Deila has unleashed a fiery tirade against the Belgian press, drawing unexpected comparisons to his tenure at Celtic. Following a convincing 3-0 victory over Molde, which secured Brugge’s place in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League, Deila did not hold back in his post-match comments.
Under intense scrutiny since his appointment last summer, with Club Brugge languishing 18 points behind league leaders Union Saint-Gilloise, the Norwegian has been the subject of harsh criticism for his tactical decisions and management style. The former Celtic boss, however, turned the tables, accusing unnamed individuals within his own club of fueling the media frenzy by leaking sensitive information.
In an explosive interview transcribed by Het Belang van Limburg, Deila expressed his astonishment at the level of negativity and intrusion he has faced in Belgium, something he claims was not as severe during his spell in Scotland. “This is my message to everyone. It’s a process. I know the media is talking to people within the club. Everything comes out, everything leaks, even information from the cloakroom. I’ve never experienced that before. However, I have worked in big clubs. Even at Celtic it wasn’t that bad,” Deila stated emphatically.
Known for his straightforward approach and disregard for hierarchy, Deila made it clear his commitment to honesty and integrity, regardless of the consequences. “I am honest, always say what I feel and don’t care about hierarchy. It doesn’t matter who you are, even the King of Norway can sit here and I can say he’s an ass. That’s how it works in Norway, but maybe it’s different here,” he remarked, highlighting cultural differences in his candid assessment.
Despite the challenges, Deila remains optimistic about Club Brugge’s potential, drawing attention to the team’s resilience and ability to learn from both victories and setbacks. With a European quarter-final on the horizon, Deila’s ambitions extend beyond domestic success, aiming to make a significant impact on the European stage. “I don’t want to choose Europe from now on. I don’t give up in the competition. There are still thirty points to be earned in the play-offs. Everything is still possible,” he affirmed.
Ronny won two titles with Celtic but he as admitted since those days that he wasn’t ready for a job as big at the time, drowning in everything that comes along with being the leader of a massive club. We wish him all the best in Europe this season
If he believes the Belgium press are worse than the Scottish press when it comes to getting their pound of flesh, either the press over there are extreme or Ronny is suffering from recency bias.
