“The squad that is now here is fantastic,” Arne Engels

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The Celtic Star

·22 Juli 2025

“The squad that is now here is fantastic,” Arne Engels

Like every transfer window, Brendan Rodgers is keen for Celtic to continue adding reinforcements, but the emphatic win over Newcastle United showed just how much quality his squad already possesses…

Arne Engels scores the first goal from the penalty spot during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Easing to a 4–0 win against Champions League opposition – no matter when it occurs in pre-season – demonstrates a team that has both quality and confidence, and a manager who knows what he is doing, which is why the club should be doing everything in their powers to keep him beyond this season.

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It has been echoed across The Celtic Star and other fan media outlets but this situation needs sorted. And it needs sorted now. For the greater good, Brendan’s contract situation cannot be lingering in the background when the season starts.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Celtic midfielder Arne Engels acknowledges that bringing in new players is part of the game, but maintains that he and his teammates have already proven their quality even before any fresh arrivals.

With more incomings needed, Rodgers’ men so far have recruited Kieran Tierney and Hayato Inamura to strengthen the defence, while Benjamin Nygren, Shin Yamada, and Callum Osmand add depth in attacking areas. Meanwhile, Ross Doohan has come back to the club to serve as the third-choice goalkeeper following the departure of Scott Bain.

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Although Tierney and Nygren are expected to become starters when the competitive season comes around a week on Sunday, Rodgers is still seeking further reinforcements, yet Engels notes that the manager already commands a very strong squad.

Celtic player Kieran Tierney is embraced by manager Brendan Rodgers before coming on as a substitute during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Speaking post-match via Glasgow Times on Saturday against Eddie Howe’s side, the Belgian said: “We have a really good squad. “And there will be always rumours about players coming in, going. It’s up to us to keep this all inside and to work on the players that are here. You see that today also, that we have a lot of quality already.”

“We’ll see what’s going in and going out, we never know, but the squad that is now here is fantastic. All the boys are doing really well. Everybody that came in is really impressing us. Everybody is still settling in.”

Engels added: “Also, you see today everybody is doing well, is adapting to the system and to the style of play and to also the fitness that we ask from each other.”

“I’m really happy with all the guys, not only those two that are coming in and showing themselves in training also. It’s been a really good signing.”

St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup Semi-Final at Hampden Park on 20 April 2025: Arne Engels Celtic. Photo Alex Todd IMAGO

The 21 year-old secured two trophies in his debut season in Glasgow and impressed in the 10 Champions League games he played in. Engels is hoping for more of the same this season.

“I’m trying to do my best here and to get ready for the new season,” he said. “There will always be rumours [about transfer speculation]and it’s up to me to just show on the field what I’m up to.”

“I’m here at Celtic and I really want to do great for this club and to reach a lot of things, so I’m not really thinking about something else.”

Read this – The backstory to Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter

Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the late David Potter’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books. The link to pre-order your copy is below…

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out 5 September 2025. Available to pre-order now.