Ronny Deila branded 'traitor' as seething Standard fans stew and gutted interim boss feels 'betrayed'

Ronny Deila was labelled a 'traitor' in a stinging banner from the Standard Liege fans who used to idolise him.

The former Celtic manager decided to walk out on the club last week to join deposed Belgian champions Club Brugge despite insisting a few days previously there had been no talks.

Standard were thumped 4-0 at home by Cercle Brugge at the weekend under caretaker boss Geoffrey Valenne and there was chanting against the Norwegian. And the Standard fans unfurled a banner that stated, 'Deila, you will soon see the treatment we reserve for traitors.' Valenne admitted their preparation was non-existent with the turmoil of Deila leaving. He said: "The fans feel betrayed by Ronny. We all do, myself included. I am an employee of the club so took the role and we tried to prepare for this match, but what happened made it very difficult. It's fair to say the players were not 100 per cent focussed on the match.

"Many players liked the coach. We had to turn the button off overnight. Unfortunately, the players were affected by his departure. Ronny was symbolic and charismatic. He took up a lot of space in the dressing room. He made his decision and I have to respect it because that's football. But I am very disappointed."

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