GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Club Brugge Head Coach Nicky Hayen during a UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Celtic and Club Brugge at Celtic Park, on November 27, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Brendan Rodgers has launched a spirited defence of Ane Engels, reminding critics of the early form and verdicts being delivered on Nicolas Kuhn and Paulo Bernardo last season.
Engels was signed for a club record fee of £1mm from Augsburg on transfer deadline day.
After a brief cameo in the September Glasgow Derby he scored in his first two starring appearances, against Hearts and Slovan Bratislava which prompted favourable comparisons to Matt O’Riley.
In recent weeks his form has dipped, when he was replaced after 59 minutes against Club Brugge there were no complaints with Bernadro taking the young Belgian’s place in midfield.
? LISTEN: “I would hope people will learn their lesson. The same people that were writing off Paulo Bernardo and Nicolas Kuhn.. development takes time”.
? Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says anyone doubting Arne Engels should learn from past judgements ?? pic.twitter.com/Zwm9JXtuUo
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) November 29, 2024
I know in life it is a challenge now for anyone, but I think the most recent example of that would be Paulo Bernardo. He was exactly the same, if I remember back.
Highlighting Paulo in his performances this time last year, and now he can’t be cheered on loud enough when he enters onto the pitch. That’s called development. It’s called patience. It’s called time. Arne is a fantastic young player, otherwise we wouldn’t have brought him here. He doesn’t set the price. He’s come here to a big club to improve his game.
I’ve got absolutely no doubt he will do that. But hopefully, I know it won’t be the case, but I would hope that people will learn their lesson. Seeing people that were writing off Paulo and Nicolas Kuhn, it’ll be Arne Engels, it’ll be someone else. You have to look and see and understand that development takes time.
Some will hit the ground running and be fine and adapt perfectly, but not everyone is like that, especially a young player. I’ve been really pleased since he’s come in, because I know the future for him. He will improve, he will develop and get better. We’ve seen it so many times.
After the midweek drama and tension of the Champions League Celtic return to domestic matters on Saturday with a visit from Ross County.
This year Celtic have had two single goal victories over the Highland side who are sitting in eighth place in the Premiership following last Saturday’s home win over Motherwell.
With Aberdeen coming up in midweek in the first fixture of December Rodgers is expected to rotate his squad around after starting the matches against Hearts and RB Leipzig with the same 11 players.
Engels comments at 6 minutes.
The game changer against Bruges was bringing on the excellent and intelligent Alex Valle, who had an immediate impact, as well as the very dependable Paulo Bernardo to stabilise the midfield. When Valle came on, the immediate understanding between him and Diazen was obvious and Celtic scored right away. IMHO Valle should be first choice at LB and Bernardo should be much more utilised than he is at present.
The team is doing so well and still some idiots look to get on the backs of some. Get a life!
I never thought for a nanosecond that when Celtic paid £11 million pounds plus for Arne Engels ,that he was a development or project player ? That seems absurd to me as someone who cost so much should at the very least hit the ground running . An eleven million pounds fee for anyone should be a guarantee of that …and much more .
Spot on Brendan
Just like Edouard?
So sevco are almost just about back to being the best team in Europe again,apparently the rankings have them as number 2.
One good win away in Europe,though I have spoken to other klan members today and they said Nice are anything but a nice or decent team,infact they said we shouldn’t be laughing at the French club considering our own problems but they were utter pish.
But apparently there is now further heavy duty finance heading sevco’s way,£8 million bangers as a starter with promises of more on top if that.
So it looks like there will be money to spend in January,the thing is who will be the manager getting his hands on it.
The rankings have them (Sevco) as No.2 !
Absolutely bang on as they are SHITE…
Well that’s what I used to have to call it when the ex babe’s mother was visiting !
I can’t see where anyone has got on the back of anyone here John. You are very quick to criticise. The game needed a positive change and that change brought about the required impact. What is wrong with stating that?
Hey Arsene, I think John was referring to the idiots having a go at Engles. Just re-phrasing Brendan.
He could equally use MOR as an example – his first season wasn’t that good, but his second was sensational. It’s taken me time to get over Rodgers’s exit, and I’ll never forgive him, but his record developing footballers speaks for itself, the bastud.
Not writing Engles off at all.
That said he either needs a kick in the backside, or a break and an arm around him. That’s BRs job.
To deny he had a bad game is indeed denial.
His positioning is awful, he doesn’t find space, his awareness was shockingly bad and in particular on one occasion he was last man in the second third and he turned running towards our goal leaving the attacker unchallenged and providing him more space.
At this stage, he’s out his depth. The game passing him by at times. To use Bernardo as a comparison is disingenuous, Matt was played because he played better. It’s my opinion that at this point Bernardo is the better player by a distance.
Not to say Engles won’t come good but I think role reversal is the option. Bernardo starts Engles is sub.
Have every confidence he will improve but he’s not brining it at the moment.
Idah on the other hand ……. Hmmm. When I compare to Giakoumakis, he has a lot of work to. Doesn’t throw his weight about enough, offside ALOT, time will tell.
As long as offside ALOT is honest calls and not ‘honest mistakes’ then aye I’m fine with that…
But remember – Scotland is Scotland Zeddy and there are a helluva lot of cheats with whistles, flags and monitors out there on the cheats with whistles flags and monitors circuits in Bonnie Scotland !