Benjamin Nygren continued to catch the eye in Celtic’s pre-season preparations, putting in an assured display as Brendan Rodgers’ side swept aside Sporting Lisbon with a 2-0 victory.
The 24-year-old brought energy and sharp decision-making to the middle of the park, showing flashes of the talent that earned him a move from FC Nordsjaelland. His technical quality and composure in possession helped Celtic dictate the tempo against the Portuguese champions.
After the match, with one eye already on Saturday’s test against Newcastle United, Nygren took a moment to reflect on the night and praised the support he’s received since arriving in Glasgow.
He said: (Celtic TV), “I think it was a very good game. I thought we were very good on the ball. We could’ve scored more goals, but it was very nice to score against a very good team. It shows our abilities and how good we are.
“We scored two very good goals and we won 2-0.
“This group is amazing, and all of the coaching staff are amazing.
“It has been easy to settle in.”
Nygren’s impact against Lisbon will give Rodgers plenty to think about heading into the weekend’s match against Premier League opposition, with the Swede pushing hard to cement a regular role in the squad.
His early performances suggest he won’t take long to become a fixture in Celtic’s midfield, and fans will be encouraged by the understanding he’s already showing alongside McGregor and Hatate.
It’s a promising start for the new recruit, who appears to have found his feet quickly at Lennoxtown. As pre-season continues, all eyes will be on how he builds on this early momentum.
The Newcastle clash now looms as another valuable test, with Nygren in contention once again to make his presence felt against top-level opposition.
