FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic manager Ronny Deila says football “is never in a straight line up to heaven” as he contemplates mixed early season form before his team’s Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam (Herald)

Deila says if he does not lead Celtic to the Premiership title this year, then he should be sacked. (Various)

He finds it “unbelievable” that there is talk of a crisis, highlighting that his team won the league by 17 points last season, have won five out of seven league matches so far and still have to play leaders Aberdeen another three times. (Various)

Celtic captain Scott Brown scoffs at the notion of a crisis at the club. “I had Tony Mowbray as a manager – that was a crisis,” he remarks. (Various)

The greatest European Cup goal you’ve never seen… Charlie Nicholas describes as his “all-time favourite goal” his strike against Ajax in a 2-1 win in the European Cup in 1982. The match was not shown in Scotland because the Dutch side had the name of their sponsors, TDK, on their jerseys. (Various)

Ajax manager Frank de Boer insists the Dutch club will never change their passing philosophy or their determination to develop their own young players. (Herald)

De Boer believes Celtic “can make it tricky for anyone” but is confident his Eredivisie-leading team can win the match. (Various)

Alex McLeish, who won three league titles with Aberdeen, tells the Dons they will never have a better chance to finish top of the table than this season. (Daily Record)

One of McLeish’s former Aberdeen team-mates, Neale Cooper, thinks a league title win for Derek McInnes would put his managerial achievements with the club “up there” with Sir Alex Ferguson. (Daily Record)

Former Hearts and Rangers midfielder Ian Black says he is ready to get his season off and running at Shrewsbury Town. (Sun)

Liverpool first-team coach Gary McAllister encouraged right-back Ryan McLaughlin to move from Anfield to Aberdeen on loan. (Sun)

Scotland women’s manager Anna Signeul will use Kim Little and Rachel Corsie sparingly, if at all, in the friendly against Norway at Firhill on Thursday evening. The pair helped Seattle Reign into the play-offs on Sunday and did not join up with their international team-mates until Tuesday evening. (Herald)

Falkirk manager Peter Houston credits life coach Connie McLaughlin for helping his players become more confident. (Daily Record)

Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp says he cannot understand why Brentford allowed Mark Warburton to leave. (Various)

Australian striker Adam Taggart was convinced to move on loan to Dundee United by former Terrors defender Curtis Good. (Sun)

Former Hibernian boss Pat Fenlon is a contender for the Celtic Under-20s role vacated by Stevie Frail earlier this month. (Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Ahead of the Davis Cup semi-final in Glasgow, Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt cranks up the strain on Great Britain’s Andy Murray by reminding him that he must be feeling added pressure playing on home soil. (Herald)

Vastly experienced South Africa, one of Scotland Pool B opponents at the Rugby World Cup, have named their team for their first game, against Japan. The 15 Springboks players have a total cap tally of 880, while Scotland’s entire 31-man squad has amassed 651 caps between them. (Times)

Prop Ryan Grant admits “fearing the worst” when he went over on his ankle playing for Scotland in their warm-up match against Ireland. He thanks the medical team for ensuring a swift recovery. (Times, Scotsman)