Chris Sutton thinks Arne Engels is finding it difficult to show his true qualities in games against Rangers.
Engels took the place of the injured Celtic captain Callum McGregor in the No.6 position as the Bhoys lost 3-2 at home to their city rivals last Sunday.
67 Hail Hail told how Engels was anonymous for large spells of the Glasgow derby, while pundit Marvin Bartley claimed the Belgian was ‘wasted’ playing further back.
Engels has faced Rangers four times this season, winning just one of those in 90 minutes. He played well as a substitute in the 3-0 September victory and but struggled as Celtic won the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden, despite assisting a goal.
He only played 15 minutes in the December defeat at Ibrox and played poorly last weekend. Sutton thinks he’s generally struggled in Rangers clashes, but did defend the 21-year-old to an extent.
Chris Sutton’s Celtic analysis of Arne Engels
Sutton doesn’t see Engels as a No.6 because he lacks the required physicality and thinks he’s better suited in an advanced role.
He wrote in his Daily Record column: “That was the challenge for Arne Engels last weekend (to fill Callum McGregor’s role) – but you’ve got to say he came up short.
“Listen, he’s still only 21 year-old and it’s clear from his displays this season he is a talent.
“I also don’t think the McGregor role is his best position on the pitch. Speaking to people who watched him in Germany, the general feeling is he is much more effective further up the pitch.
“It might come, but I’m not sure he has the physicality just yet for that deep role and it was obvious he wasn’t comfortable being put under intense pressure. He wanted more time on the ball – and you just don’t get that in Scotland, and certainly not in a derby.
“Engels gets battered with his price tag, but the fee was nothing to do with him. You get some people saying he doesn’t look like an £11m player, but what does an £11m player look like these days?
“I see plenty who cost far more in the English Premier League and they look like they’d struggle to control a beach ball.
“It’s all relative. Yes, Engels has struggled to impose himself in games against Rangers.
“But last weekend was the first one he has started. Far more experienced players have lost the plot in this fixture in the past and I’m sure he will learn from it.”
Simon Ferry criticised Engels against Rangers
On his Open Goal podcast, ex-Celtic kid Simon Ferry was a little more harsh than Sutton in his own analysis of Engels against Rangers.
Ferry too thinks Engels can’t play the ‘McGregor role’ and criticised the former Augsburg man’s personality and body language at Celtic Park.
He said: “I think Engels has got quality, by the way. I think he is. I think he’s technically very good.
“But to play for Celtic or Rangers, you need to be more than a good player. And I’ve said it before, his personality, I just look at his face, his body language to show for the ball.
“(Luke) McCowan got criticised yesterday, but I would take McCowan’s performance over Engels any day because at least he’s trying to get the ball, trying to make someone happen, trying to be positive when he gets it.
“I just didn’t see it with Engels.”
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