Ronny Deila is winning plaudits on all sides as the former Celtic manager thrives in the wake of losing key player Nicolas Raskin to former rivals Rangers.
The Norwegian has guided his Standard Liege side into top four contention in the Belgian top flight with a storming 4-2 win over Union Saint Gilloise at the weekend, who hadn't lost at home domestically since September. They were forced into cashing in on top talents Selim Amallah and Raskin in the winter window, with the latter joining Rangers with less than six months left on his deal in native territory.
No money was provided to bring in fresh faces but they still sit just a couple of points outside a championship play-off spot. It's got the Belgian media singing his praises, with top commentator Peter Vandenbempt telling Radio 1: "I raise my praise again for Standard and trainer Ronny Deila. Impressive what they did on the field of an unbeatable Union, which was unbeaten for 17 games. Perhaps what Deila does with the Reds is the most impressive of all trainers. It is a club without money that cannot make transfers, that has sold its best players such as Raskin and Amallah and could not replace them and still fight for the top four. That is strong.”
More praise arrives from Lavenir, who note the manager that won three trophies while Celtic manager changed from a figure of serenity to a bull enraged by a red flag. They explained: "The proximity of the main stand to the touchline at the Union allowed us to be in the front row to observe the attitude and coaching of Ronny Deila.
"Usually very calm along the line and leaving the role of "bad cop" to his deputy, Efrain Juarez (already warned twice), the Norwegian let the volcano in him burst. This match at the Union was certainly a turning point for his team, for an entire club which is in full reconstruction.
"Either the people of Liège sank after their non-match against Courtrai and the word crisis was once again in order in Sclessin, or they showed a completely different face and proved that they were indeed on the right path. He showed incredible energy throughout the match, which reflected on his men.
"With his mentality, his ideas and his enthusiasm, the one who has won a title everywhere he has gone proves that he can take Standard a step further. If he is supported and above all helped financially by his management, Ronny Deila may be the one who will bring Matricule 16 back to centre stage."
Then came the support of former Belgian international Philippe Albert. He notes that Standard Liege's gaffer has to rank among the best in the business for working on a shoestring.
Albert added: "Speaking of coaches, there is one who amazes everyone, it is obviously Ronny Deila, who in my eyes is one of the top three coaches. I even wonder if someone other than Deila could have brought his team together in this way after the poor performance against Kortrijk, and went and planted four goals for the Union by having to play without a number nine!
"What is annoying for the staff and the players is the fact of having wasted so many points against badly classified. Otherwise, Standard would be largely in the top four."
