Brendan Rodgers has made a big call from the off this season.
The Celtic manager has decided to replace Arne Engels in the middle of the park for the 2025 summer signing, Benjamin Nygren.
Even though Engels is Celtic’s club-record transfer, he has watched the opening two games from the bench, including at Pittodrie on Sunday.
Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-0, with Nygren, who is playing a number eight role alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate, opening the scoring and helping his side maintain their 100% start to the new season.
- READ MORE: Unique Angle catches what Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren did after Celtic goal vs Aberdeen
Benjamin Nygren’s start at Celtic and Arne Engels comparison
From the little Stiliyan Petrov has seen of Nygren so far, he likes what he is watching, and he referred to the 24-year-old’s attitude.
The legendary midfielder thinks Nygren’s attitude is ‘really good’, and he also looks ‘comfortable’ when taking the ball in difficult situations.
Speaking to Sky Sports Football (10/08/25), Petrov noted how Engels was ‘really good’ for Celtic last term, but now finds himself out of the XI.
“I haven’t seen enough of him to say I have been impressed,” admitted Petrov about Nygren.
“But what I like about him is his attitude. I think his attitude is really good. He came into a team that put in great performances last season. Engels has been really good. Hatate and McGregor. To be given the chance to start instead of Engels, and to fight for that place, he looks comfortable. He looks like he is enjoying his football.
“(Against Aberdeen), it was a little bit more difficult for him. He had to look for more movement from him. But every time he got on the ball, he looked comfortable on the ball, and technically, really good. Disciplined.
“The only chance that Celtic had in the first half, he had to convert it, and he managed to do that. His Celtic career has started nice and steady.”
How Nygren has rated during his first two Celtic games
When Nicolas Kuhn left Celtic and joined Como, many thought Nygren was his replacement because he has played and can play on the right-hand side.
But Rodgers has decided otherwise, and the Swedish star is playing in the middle of the park, where, so far, things are looking really good for the new signing.
That has been portrayed by his strong ratings from WhoScored.
- Rating vs St Mirren: 6.71
- Rating vs Aberdeen: 9.17
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