Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers addresses Arne Engels critics with firm defence of ‘fantastic’ talent

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Brendan Rodgers has responded to external noise surrounding Arne Engels’ last few performances in the Celtic midfield.

Coming in as the Bhoys’ record signing at £11 million, the 21-year-old has made a sound start to life at Parkhead with two goals and three assists in his opening nine appearances.

Nevertheless, there has been debate among Celtic fans about whether Arne Engels plays over Luke McCowan or other engine room options amid mixed opinion on his performances of late.

Truthfully, Engels hasn’t done anything glaringly under part despite possibly not hitting the peak of his powers. However, with his price tag, there is always going to be an elevated level of expectation on his shoulders.

Now, Brendan Rodgers has addressed noise surrounding the playmaker and has laid out his plans for him moving forward at the reigning Scottish Premiership champions.

Brendan Rodgers on Arne Engels’ Celtic displays

Speaking in his pre-match press conference before Celtic travel to face Motherwell on Sunday, Rodgers has signalled his belief that Engels will go on to be a ‘fantastic’ asset for the club and has taken a shot at critics expecting him to be the ‘finished article’ straight away.

He stated: “There’s critics in the game and people have an opinion, you have to respect that. For me, we’ve brought a young player in who is nowhere near the finished article. I think sometimes there’s a price around him and that may feel like sometimes you’re buying someone who’s the finished article.

“He’s not, he came in as a 20-year-old player who’s got great potential, and it’s my job here, along with the staff, to develop that. I said to him, ‘You’re coming from playing one game a week’, that’s a holiday in my book, to come and play at a big club with big pressure and big expectation, and you’ll feel it.

“Sometimes you’ll play, you’ll play in a lot of games and sometimes you’ll come out to recover, so it’s all natural. We’ve had the same with Nicolas Kuhn, we’ve had the same with Callum McGregor over many years.

“It’s football. I understand people will make a judgement and opinion, but I’m so happy he chose to come here; he’s shown more than enough in this short period of time that he’s going to be a fantastic player for us.”

Arne Engels will continue to settle in at Celtic and needs time

Realistically, it would be ridiculous to expect the world from Engels in his first few appearances under the expectation of being a Celtic player, but his early signs have been mostly promising, which is the main thing.

Settling into a new environment is never straightforward. However, the fully-fledged Belgium international has taken it in his stride, even if some fixtures have produced a more muted impact than others from the Dendermonde-born man.

Ultimately, Engels needs time and patience to hit full throttle. Rodgers referenced Nicolas Kuhn as an example of this practice, and you can see the impression he has since gone on to make.

Engels has made a positive start to life in Glasgow and should be given the leeway he deserves to find his best footing in midfield.