Celtic’s 3-2 defeat to Rangers on Sunday was a frustrating result, and the absence of Callum McGregor due to injury provided Brendan Rodgers with a tactical dilemma.

In McGregor’s absence, Rodgers chose to use Arne Engels in a deeper midfield role, typically reserved for the Celtic captain. However, Marvin Bartley, the former Hibernian and Livingston midfielder, has voiced his concerns over this decision, suggesting that Engels was “wasted” in this role.

Engels Struggles in Deeper Role

Arne Engels has been one of Celtic’s best attacking threats this season, often used in a more advanced role where he can influence the game with his driving runs and ability to create goalscoring chances. However, in the 3-2 loss to Rangers, Rodgers opted to use Engels as a number six – a more defensive role traditionally occupied by McGregor. This decision raised eyebrows, as Engels struggled to make an impact in the game, failing to win the midfield battle against fellow countryman Nicolas Raskin.

Marvin Bartley’s Critique

Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Marvin Bartley criticised Engels’ performance in the holding midfield position, he said: “For me, he was wasted in that deeper role, he really was. There were a couple of times in the game where he went a little higher and tried to make some forward runs.” Bartley went on to explain that while some may argue that Engels is naturally suited to this position, he didn’t look comfortable at all.

“He looks so much more comfortable playing as a number eight,” Bartley added. “He’s not one of them that looks like he wants to build the game. We speak about Callum McGregor and he gets on the ball and drops in between the two centre-halves when he needs to glue everything together. Engels didn’t look comfortable at all in trying to do that role.”

The Impact on Celtic’s Midfield

Celtic’s midfield struggled to get a foothold in the game in the first half, and Engels’ discomfort in the deeper role was clear. Bartley suggested that the game “passed him by,” and that he seemed to be forcing things in an attempt to make an impact. While the Belgian midfielder has shown quality in a more advanced role, his performance as a holding midfielder highlighted the difficulty of filling McGregor’s boots.

Looking Ahead

With McGregor’s return still uncertain, Rodgers will need to carefully consider his midfield balance in future. Engels’ versatility is a positive, but the defeat against Rangers raises questions about his suitability in a deeper role. Celtic fans will be hoping for a swift recovery from McGregor, but in the meantime, Rodgers will need to find the right midfield solution in his absence, as it was a huge problem for the Hoops, particularly in the first half.