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Ronny Deila described Celtic's advancement to the last 32 of the Europa League as his best achievement in management so far.

The Parkhead side progressed despite a 3-1 home defeat to FC Salzburg – the first ever victory for an Austrian club side on Scottish soil.

Dinamo Zagreb's defeat to Astra in Romania sent the Parkhead side through Group D in second place – and rendered the final game in Croatia in two weeks time meaningless.

Celtic fans unfurl a giant banner during Thursday's match comparing success of the two clubs

Parkhead was silenced when Salzburg raced into a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes.

Stefan Johansen's strike after half an hour teed up a battling second half effort before the visitors scored a third on the break in the second minute of injury time.

Asked if reaching the knock out stages was his best night as a manager, however, Deila replied: 'So far. I hope it's just the beginning.

'We are very happy to get through but of course we wanted to it by ourselves and win the game. Salzburg are a very good football team and every time they attacked, I felt threatened. They were very direct, which we knew they would be.

'We started the game very poorly and conceded two easy goals - one from a set play which shouldn't happen. We put ourselves in a bad situation.

'But then the boys showed real courage. They fought to get back into the game at 2-1 and then I was proud of them in the second half.

'We really attacked them and put them under pressure. We put lots of crosses in but couldn't put them into the net. They then got a third goal at the end but that will always happen when you put everyone into attack.'

Rock star and Celtic fan Rod Stewart was in the crowd at Celtic Park on Thursday night

Salzberg's Brazilia striker Alan (far right) opens the scoring after a wicked deflection against Celtic

Alan (right) scored twice in the opening 13 minutes to set Salzburg on their way to impressive victory

The first half hour was almost embarrassingly easy for the Austrian champions. Pleased his team salvaged some pride after the break – Leigh Griffiths was denied a leveller by the Salzburg keeper Peter Gulacsi – Deila admitted: 'I didn't feel well after 15 minutes when we were 2-0 down. But we fought ourselves into the match again and the players did everything they could. That' s what you have to expect of them.

'The best team have won the group. Salzburg have shown themselves to be a very good team, scoring five goals away in Zagreb and winning almost every game.

'We have been the second best team and now we have to fight to try and get into the last 16 and then the quarter-finals.'

Scotland's champions now have a one in four chance of facing a Champions League drop out when the draw is made on December 15. Unconcerned by that prospect Deila added: 'I don't think the third teams in the Champions League are any better than the team we met today.

'This is the standard.

'Today we met a modern football team in my opinion. 

Salzburg's Naby Keita (right) nods into the unguarded net to put his side 3-1 ahead against Celtic

Celtic's Stefan Johansen collects the ball having pulled a goal back for his side

The limitations of Ronny Deila's team were exposed in the 3-1 defeat to Adolf Hutter's classy Salzburg

'They were an unbelievably hard working eleven players and they were very direct and intense and if we can handle this we can handle the Champions League teams as well.'

Refusing to rule out further progression to the last 16 – despite last night's defeat - Deila will now target new faces in the January window while striving to get the best out of the existing players.

'First of all we have to take care of the players we have here and get the best out of them.

'Today Tonev was a fantastic sub and was very good when he came on.

'We need more of that – more of him at that level.

'Also the other players coming on – we need them at the highest level possible.

'Broony was unbelievable – in the second half he just owned the game.

'Then it's hard to play against Celtic and after that we have to look for strengthening the squad in the window.'

Delighted Salzburg coach Sutter hailed a historic night for his side saying: 'It's the first victory for an Austrian team here in Scotland and we wanted to top the group. It's just wonderful being here at Celtic Park.

'We had to fight in the end – but it was a deserved victory.'