Arne Engels criticism – “It doesn’t surprise me,” Brendan Rodgers

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The Celtic Star

·26 de outubro de 2024

Arne Engels criticism – “It doesn’t surprise me,” Brendan Rodgers

Arne Engels has all the attributes to be a top, top player, and he will undoubtedly fulfil his potential with the help of Brendan Rodgers…

6th October 2024; Victoria Park, Dingwall, Scottish Premiership Ross County versus Celtic; Arne Engels of Celtic plays the ball. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Arne Engels arrived at Celtic in a blaze of publicity, amid great excitement on the last day of the summer transfer window. The Celtic supporters craved a big signing, and we certainly got it as the Belgian signed in an £11 million plus deal to become the club’s record signing.

Vídeos OneFootball

Big things were and still are expected of the 21 year old, although some are unfairly asking a bit too much of the Belgian international. Yes he’s not exactly set the heather on fire, but he’s hardly been a disappointment either. Did you see his pass last Saturday for Kyogo to set up Reo Hatate for the opening goal against Aberdeen? Not enough was made of that, given how the game panned out, but it was world class.

What exactly are some folks expecting from Arne? A Zidaneesque performance in every single game? His massive transfer fee is understandably a factor behind the expectations placed upon him, but sometimes you need to take a look at the bigger picture.

Vladimir Weiss is challenged by Arne Engels during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Celtic FC and SK Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park on September 18, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Arne has only just turned 21 and is just finding his feet in a different country, while adapting to a new style of football. He will naturally take time to adjust, but he has all the credentials to be a success.

He’s played over 50 games in the Bundesliga, and he’s just recently called up to the full Belgian national side. Average players don’t get to do that, he obviously has the talent, and he will only get better with time. Something that a certain element of the Celtic supporters have to understand.

Arne has got a great mentor in Brendan Rodgers. Brendan has the Midas touch when it comes to improving and developing players. Matt O’Riley is a recent example of that. Arne will become an even better player under the Irishman’s guidance.

Ademola Lookman of Atalanta BC competes for the ball with Arne Engels of Celtic FC during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Atalanta BC and Celtic FC at Stadio di Bergamo on October 23, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Yesterday at his media conference, which appears to be happening without fan media these days, was asked this question: “Social media is not perhaps the best place to go looking for reactions sometimes, but after the game was a bit of a lukewarm reaction at Arne Engels and just his last couple of performances, does it surprise you that folk are still adjusting to how you set it, and they’ve perhaps come to conclusions?”

Brendan Rodgers answered as follows: “It doesn’t surprise me, no. It doesn’t, it really doesn’t. But it doesn’t really matter. I think everyone, there are critics in the game and people have an opinion. You have to respect that. For me, we brought a young player in who’s nowhere near the finished article. I think sometimes there’s pressure around him and that might feel that you’re buying someone who’s the finished article. He’s not.

Celtic v Hearts – Arne Engels during the match at Celtic Park on 14 September 2024. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/PSI

“He came in here as a 20-year-old player who’s got great potential and it’s my job here and I’m with the staff to develop that. He’s coming from, I said to him, you’re coming from playing one game a week, where that’s a holiday in my book, to come and play in a big club with big pressure and big expectations and you’ll feel it. And sometimes you’ll play and you’ll be playing a lot of games and sometimes you come out to recover.

“So, it’s all natural. We had the same with Nicholas Kuhn. We’ve had probably the same with Callum McGregor over many years. So, it’s football. And listen, I understand that people make a judgment and an opinion, but I’m so, so happy he chose to come here. He’s shown more than enough in this short period of time that he’s going to be a fantastic player for us.”

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