‘He is kicking himself…’ Pat Bonner says the ‘freedom’ has gone out of Celtic star’s game

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Patience is a virtue and no team has shown that more than Celtic under Brendan Rodgers.

Yes, Celtic won the double last season, but even months into this campaign, you can tell that there is a huge contrast between the performances of last season and now.

The players are playing with more freedom, moving the ball quicker, there is that extra bite without the ball and certain players have taken their games to another level.

Nicolas Kuhn is a prime example of a player improved and someone who is now one of the first names on the teamsheet after his early struggles.

When Kuhn arrived in January, it was very stop-start for the player and people were questioning him, as well as the club’s recruitment.

That’s what happens when you play for a pressure cooker of a club like Celtic, but lessons need to be learnt here and Arne Engels is that guy now.

Pat Bonner says Arne Engels isn’t playing with ‘freedom’ at Celtic

Matt O’Riley’s Celtic exit was a big blow for the club because of how important he was under Rodgers last season.

But Celtic didn’t mess about when he left for Brighton, they broke the bank and used that money wisely, including signing Engels from Augsburg for a club-record £11 million.

Pat Bonner spoke about Engels’ indifferent start and how the ‘freedom’ has gone out of his game following the early few weeks of the season.

The legendary goalkeeper stated that the Belgium international has had to ‘adjust’ his game and will now need 12 months to show his true worth, as he told Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland.

“In the European games, he had to kind of adjust his game from that first game against Dortmund,” said Bonner. “We saw him play the same role and the same position. He was jumping out.

“Now, he has to think a little bit more against the top teams. All of that is probably in his mind. He is a young man. He’s got all the attributes. I think he is going to be a brilliant player for Celtic when he has another year behind him and matures.

“He is now almost kicking himself a little bit. When you are a young player and you have to think a little bit more about your game, suddenly the freedom goes a little bit from what we have seen in the early games. Now he is just questioning certain things. That will come. That will all come and improve, along with his ability.”

Engels’ stats for Celtic

Yes, there could be the case that Paulo Bernardo or Luke McCowan should be starting for Celtic, but they are already used to Scottish football.

Given Engels 12 months, or even half a season, and he will prove to be one of the best players in the league, just like O’Riley did and Kuhn is doing right now.

But despite being off-colour here and there, WhoScored have still rated his performances in Celtic colours a tad below seven, with a respectable 6.91 in the Champions League.