Arne Engels admits he challenged Brendan Rodgers over lack of Celtic game time

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Arne Engels’ season took a while to get up and running.

After his first full pre-season at Celtic, the midfielder found that he had seemingly lost his place in the team to new signing Benjamin Nygren.

Engels was the marquee signing of the summer 2024 transfer window, becoming the Celts’ record signing with an £11 million price tag from Augsburg.

But that tag quickly became a stick to beat him with for his inconsistent form. Much of the Belgian’s best performances did, however, come in Europe.

Since Rodgers’ departure this October, Engels has experienced an uptick in both form and playing time – he reflected on this after Wilfried Nancy’s first match.

Arne Engels on Celtic minutes under Brendan Rodgers

Engels played all 120 minutes of Celtic’s 3-1 extra-time win against Rangers at Hampden.

He also earned praise for his performance in the Celts’ famous 2-1 win over Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

READ MORE: Celtic predicted for £20m January spend by Tam McManus due to Dermot Desmond factor

But he was benched for both legs of the disastrous Champions League qualifier against Kairat Almaty, in a less enjoyable period.

Speaking about it, he said: “It’s always frustrating as a player to be on the bench, especially, I’m maybe the one who is really working hard and trying to be back in the team.

“If you don’t really get a big chance to be back in the team and to show what you actually can contribute to the team, then it’s always frustrating.

“Obviously, you go and ask why you’re not playing. If you played a lot of important games last season, then you’re going to go up to the manager and then ask for the reasons.

“We spoke about it, and we had really good chats. He gave his clear opinion, and it was up to me to just get on with it and work hard for myself and work hard for the team.

“It was just about small details. Every manager has their own way of thinking and their own way of putting the players on the pitch.

“Sometimes you’re not in that plan, and then you need to deal with it and just work hard to become part of that plan. That’s what I did. I worked really hard behind the scenes, and I also got my opportunities.

“Shaun [Maloney] and the backroom staff had been talking to me about arriving in the box. I’m always trying to be there and always trying to get a goal from somewhere.

“Gavin [Strachan] has also been telling me since last year that I just need to keep on doing it because I’m coming there, but sometimes the ball is not arriving.

“You need to have a little bit of luck also to get into the right position and to get a goal.”

Arne Engels and other Celtic players to re-emerge under Martin O’Neill

Engels wasn’t the only Celtic player to reward O’Neill for giving them more opportunities.

Callum Osmand had a dream first week under the interim boss, being handed his debut against Falkirk before scoring his first senior goal in the Rangers game at Hampden.

Austron Trusty also became an essential player under O’Neill, forming a partnership with Liam Scales as Celtic resolidified their defence.

In O’Neill’s later matches, Yang Hyun-Jun hit form, having seemingly been on the verge of leaving in the summer. Fans will be hoping he can continue his form into the Nancy era.