Celtic manager Ronny Deila is eager to put the bitter disappointment of 12 months ago behind him as his side embark on their latest bid to reach the Champions League group stage on Wednesday.

The Scottish champions entertain Icelandic side Stjarnan at Celtic Park in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie, one of three ties they will have to win if they are to return to the group stage for the first time since 2013-14.

Last season, the Hoops beat another Icelandic outfit in KR Reykjavik at the same stage only to lose to Legia Warsaw in the next round.

The Poles were then kicked out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player but Celtic still failed to make the group stage, losing to Maribor of Slovenia in a play-off.

That turned out to be the biggest disappointment in a campaign which saw Celtic lift the Premiership title and the League Cup, and Deila is now hoping for a better run in Europe in his second season in charge in Glasgow's East End.

"I hate the feeling I had in my body after Maribor," Deila told The Herald.

"That is a feeling I fear and it drives me on. I hate losing -- that's in my blood.

"Everyone at this club is doing everything they can, every day, to prepare for these qualifying games.

"We believe we can do it but, if we don't, it will be because we're not good enough to be there. That's how it is.

"But I now really believe that we're good enough. Qualifying is a very hard task because it's three rounds right at the start of the season.

"We have to face good opponents so it's tough. It will be a big achievement if we can get there," added Deila, whose team go to Iceland for the return leg next midweek.

Celtic have moved to strengthen their squad over the close season, spending a combined £3 million (4.2m euros, $4.6m) to sign Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata from Manchester City and Turkish striker Nadir Ciftci from Dundee United.

In addition, Swiss defender Saidy Janko has been signed from Manchester United and goalkeeper Logan Bailly, who has been capped by Belgium, arrived from OH Leuven.

The expectation is that they will be too strong for Stjarnan, although they are in the midst of their domestic season while Celtic have only played friendlies, including a 1-0 win against Spanish side Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Stjarnan also eliminated Motherwell in Europa League qualifying last year before losing to Inter Milan, the same side who later defeated Celtic in the knockout stages.

Among the other sides involved in the second qualifying round are 1986 European Cup winners Steaua Bucharest, with the Romanian champions facing Trencin of Slovakia.

If they progress, they will join the likes of Ajax, Monaco, Shakhtar Donetsk, CSKA Moscow and FC Basel in the draw for the third qualifying round.