CELTIC have improved enough to make it into the Champions League next season without any additions, according to Ronny Deila.
The Hoops boss got his hands on the Scottish Premiership trophy after a 5-0 win over a weakened Inverness side at Parkhead. His twin teenage daughters Thale and Live carried the silverware out to the podium for former Hoops striker and fellow Norwegian Harald Brattbakk to make the presentation to skipper Scott Brown, to go with the Scottish League Cup won earlier in Deila's first season as boss.
Deila passed up on two chances to qualify for the Champions League earlier in the season as he came to grips with taking over from Neil Lennon. But he insists that, even if they do not add to the squad, they will be a much better place for a tilt at Europe next season.
He said: "I think we are still in a good position, even if we don't add anyone else before the qualifiers. I'm not worried.
"I know that the players who are here already are the ones who are going to do the main job. We were in a totally different place last year with a lot of uncertainties.
"They felt unsafe with what I wanted to put into the team. The transition was so hard. We struggled with that. A lot of managers have come into Celtic and other places before me and also struggled with that.
"Now, we have a foundation to work on. You can see that everyone on the pitch knows their tasks and have a good togetherness. We know what is ahead of us and it motivates us."
A double from Serbian striker Stefan Scepovic and further goals from midfielder Stefan Johansen and substitutes Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons left Celtic on 92 points, 17 ahead of Aberdeen and having conceded only 17 goals.
Deila claimed Scepovic, who signed last year for a reported fee of £2.3million from Sporting Gijon but who was given a rare start after failing to pin down a starting place, still has a future at the club.
He said: "Stefan has struggled a little bit to get into the physical side of Scottish football, but today he showed he is capable of doing it. I'm very happy for him.
"He knew what I expected from him - hard work and quick reactions. We know he can score goals, but I think he worked really, really hard today and showed that he is capable of doing what we ask him to do.
"Everyone will get a chance next season. He is in our squad, so he is one of them. I have no plans to speak to his agent. I will speak to the player, not the agent - it's much better.
"Of course, he wants to stay here. He wants to succeed here. But everyone wants to play football, that's the hardest part for me to manage. We need competition and we need a squad who can stay over 70 games or so a season."
Deila was pleased with his way his side applied themselves to their final fixture.
He said: "It was a very good experience, a fantastic day. I was very happy with the performance. We didn't have anything to play for except our honour and I think the players did that in a brilliant way.
"The atmosphere was great, there were so many people in the stadium. We got the trophy and it was great to see so many people excited about it.
"We have also set a record for the number of goals conceded in the league this season. That's a great achievement, so I'm happy for Craig Gordon and the defence."
Inverness manager John Hughes admitted it had been a "horrible week". With one eye on Saturday's William Hill Scottish Cup final against Falkirk at Hampden, Hughes made wholesale changes.
Caley Thistle regulars Josh Meekings, Graeme Shinnie, Ross Draper, Edward Ofere, Greg Tansey and David Raven were nowhere to be seen, while Marley Watkins and Aaron Doran were on the bench which had only five substitutes. The visitors were then put to the sword in a one-sided game.
"It was a horrible week because you are preparing for the Scottish Cup final and you still have Celtic here," said Hughes.
"What team do you pick? You owe it to the boys. What if one of them pick up a straight red card and misses the final? That's why some didn't even travel.
"They will still go into the game with confidence and momentum, they had nothing to do with this today. They will be flying high. Now, all our focus is on the Scottish Cup next week.
"But Celtic were very good today. They deserve to be champions, they are the best team in Scotland. You could bring your best team to Celtic and get done for five. But we need to get it out the way and get ready to go for next week.
"It was disappointing to lose five goals nevertheless."
Inverness defender Gary Warren, who is suspended for the final after being banned for the League Cup final against Aberdeen last season, insists he has an "important role" to play in the build-up to Hampden.
He said: "It will be a strange week for me, but one which I will treat exactly the same as if I was playing.
"I got my head round it quickly to be honest with you. I think the experience of last year has helped me through and there are more important things in life."
