Arne Engels: “It’s been amazing. It’s an amazing country actually”

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The Celtic Star

·29 décembre 2024

Arne Engels: “It’s been amazing. It’s an amazing country actually”

Arne Engels opened up on his ‘beautiful,’ start to life in Scotland as the Belgian midfielder gears up for St Johnstone’s test this afternoon…

Arne Engels celebrates scoring during the match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

Adding a fifth goal in 23 appearances for Celtic on Thursday against Motherwell from the penalty spot, Engels’ numbers in a Hoops jersey cannot be argued with.

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Coupled with seven assists to his name, Celtic’s record-breaking signing has contributed 12 goals in those 23 games since arriving from Bundesliga outfit FC Augsburg for £11 million in the summer.

Settling into new environs with a hefty price-tag attached to his name may have irked Engels, but the 21 year-old seems to have taken to fresh beginnings seamlessly as he embarks on creating more history with the reigning Scottish champions this season.

Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda at the final whistle during match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles

Whilst some supporters remain underwhelmed by Engels’ qualities, patience is vital, just like it was for his predecessor in that role, Matt O’Riley, to his success with the club. Wednesday, Saturday fixtures alone is something the Belgian internationalist has never been used to. The pressures of having to win every game across each competition is also a stress that Engels may never face elsewhere in his career never mind so far.

Boxing Day’s comfortable 4-0 win over Motherwell was the Belgian’s first start since Celtic sluggishly seen off Hibs at the beginning of the month 3-0 at Celtic Park.

Ibrox is in Arne’s sights

With Ibrox in sight next Thursday, a starting XI place for Engels this afternoon and an influential performance will undoubtedly give boss Brendan Rodgers a midfield headache heading into the third Glasgow Derby encounter of the season.

Arne Engels in action during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s Scottish Premiership clash with St Johnstone, Engels assessed his start to life in Glasgow.

Always nice to help the team

“I think it’s always nice to help the team. That’s why I’m here. That’s why everybody’s here is to help the team win. So that’s the most important thing. It’s always nice to grab a goal then and to help the team like this. So, yeah, it was a nice afternoon. Everybody knows that you need to perform here, and everybody is doing really well,” Arne said, as reported by The Herald.

“Everybody’s pushing each other. So, that’s a really nice competition into the team and that helps us also to perform every game. I think everybody is performing really well and then you get wins. It’s been really nice. Everybody’s really nice to me. Also settling down here, it’s been amazing. It’s an amazing country actually. So, it’s all been easy for me.”

Arne Engels in action during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Engels explained: “In the team, the boys are amazing. They’re all fantastic guys that we can love every day. So, it has been really enjoyable actually. Just the people [are my favourite thing about Scotland]actually. Everybody’s so nice to each other. That makes me feel really welcome here.”

“Also, of course, you have really beautiful places here in Scotland. The city is also nice. So, it has been really nice.”

You need to win every game here

Discussing Celtic’s current form, the 21 year-old midfield playmaker outlined; “I think we showed already a few weeks and a few months that we are ready for every game. I think it’s the same for the next one.”

“We just talk about the next game. We talked about this game, now we’re talking about the next game. We see every game by itself, and we don’t look forward [beyond that]because then you forget the important things of the next games.”

“You need to win every game here, so you need to be focused every week.”

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST!