Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has spoken yet again about Arne Engels after the Belgian hit back at critics with the opening goal against Hibernian at Celtic Park this afternoon.
Engels, who has dipped in form recently, looked closer to his best against Hibs with a goal and played 73 minutes before being replaced by Reo Hatate.
The Hoops’ club record signing received criticism for his performances in recent weeks, but at just 21 years old, time is still on his side to grow into the Celtic midfield.
With Brendan Rodgers echoing this.
He said: (The Celtic Way), “It’s just going to be time. I think I won’t even begin to judge Arne until this time next year. I mean, once he’s come in and had a year and settling into everything and seeing how we play.
“Because it’s complex, there’s a lot of real technical ideas needed in the game. He’s receiving the ball in lots of tight spaces. Before, in the team he played with, he was more running into space.
“But it was great for him to arrive because that’s what we expect from a race, to get in the box, to be close to scoring. You’ve seen the look at the crossbar, and it was close in the first half. But Arne got into the areas that we wanted him to be in and finished it really well.”
Engels by no means has been a flop, with some impressive performances against Slovan Bratislava and Hearts.
He has an eye for a goal and looks to be a physical presence in the middle of the park.
With Rodgers previously discussing how he views Engels as more of a number 6 than an out-and-out attacking midfielder, it appears the Irishman does not see him as a like-for-like replacement for Matt O’Riley, who at times would play higher up the pitch.
Instead, Engels could be Callum McGregor’s long-term successor.
In understanding what he brings to Celtic, you must look at him as more of a defensively-minded player who can make late, darting runs into the box, rather than an out-and-out playmaker who dribbles through teams.
With the Belgian performing well against Atalanta in Bergamo, he brings a physicality to the Celtic midfield that was lacking before this season, offering a different option depending on the opposition.
But to hit back so quickly at his critics with a goal this afternoon, Engels is the real deal, and given time, he will be back in the Hoops midfield, starting week in, week out.
