Celtic manager Ronny Deila is confident he will be given time to turn around the club's European fortunes after the Scottish champions suffered another defeat in continental competition on Thursday.

The Glasgow giants' 2-1 loss at home to Norwegian side Molde in the Europa League did more damage to their chances of making headway in the second-tier tournament.

Celtic are now bottom of Group A with two points from four games and need to beat Ajax at home and Fenerbahce away to reach the knockout stages.

It is a sorry state of affairs for Celtic, the first British club to win the European Cup back in 1967, who have been all the more dominant in domestic football since traditional Glasgow rivals Rangers were kicked out of the top flight three years ago for entering financial administration.

Celtic have had three chances to qualify for the Champions League -- European club football's elite competition -- since replacing former Parkhead manager Neil Lennon in 2014.

The Hoops were reinstated in Deila's first season before losing in the play-off to Maribor and there are reports that the Celtic board are pondering whether Deila is the right man to lead the club in Europe should they again win the Scottish Premiership title.

Lennon, however, failed to get Celtic into the Champions League in his first two full seasons as manager before taking the club to the last 16 where they were beaten by Italy's Juventus.

For Norwegian manager Deila, speaking before this weekend's league match away to Ross County on Sunday, Lennon's experience provides a useful guide to his own Celtic future.

"When you see the history of this club they have had a manager before here who has struggled in Europe in the beginning and made it right," he said.

"And they stand by their manager. That's what I expect with me as well."

Deila added: "I really want to be here. I love being here. I love the club and the fans, everything, and I am really ambitious. And I am sorry, I assure you, I haven't slept a lot last night but I see talent and progress in the team.

"I know we need to get better but we are still not out of the group.

"People can say it will be hard but it is possible. A victory against Ajax and we are suddenly into it again and we can do something in Turkey."

Deila, previously in charge of Stromsgodset, insisted he was the right man to lead Celtic forward.

"I know what I've done in my past," he said.

"I know all my teams have progressed. I know what I'm building, I know what I want and all the players know how we want to do it.

"I've seen managers before having time and then suddenly they make it and I'm going to do it as well, together with the players and the staff."