ARNE ENGELS cost more than the entire Hearts first-team squad.
Ponder that for a moment while you peruse the Premiership table.
The classy Belgian playmaker arrived on August deadline day 2024 at the cost of £11million from Bundesliga club Augsburg, an all-time high Celtic purchase.
There were a few misguided – and overly-optimistic – souls out there who believed the youngster, who celebrated his 21st birthday just a few days after his historic move, would have packed a magic wand in his luggage en route from Germany.
In such circumstances, expectation levels are unrealistic and even Brendan Rodgers, who urged the board to splash the cash, had to come to Engels’ defence and admit he was “not the finished article”.
The player did not come into the team with a seamless grace to begin dominating midfields wherever the team played. He was not magically equipped to demonstrate on a matchday basis why Celtic had broken records to bring him to Parkhead.
Alas, such manifestations mainly belong in fairytales and daydreamers were rudely awakened from their reveries by the interruption of real life.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT…Arne Engels, Callum McGregor and Colby Donovan after Celtic’s 3-1 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle in October.
Engels proved he was merely human, despite whatever price tag was hanging around his neck.
He did not become a pivotal player and a must-pick for Rodgers.
The player was clearly disappointed to get the hook in the 66th minute of last season’s dire Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen. The trophy holders were leading 1-0 at the time – courtesy of a first-half own goal from Alfie Dorrington – but were toiling to impose their authority on a team they had massacred 6-0 in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at the same venue earlier in the season.
In his desire for a crucial second goal, Rodgers withdrew the Belgian and introduced Luke McCowan.
The look of surprise on Engels’ face was matched by a few others – including mine – as he trudged off the field. Paulo Bernardo had made little or no impact, but he remained on the field for a further 34 minutes before he was replaced by Jeffrey Schlupp in extra-time before the ill-fated penalty-kick shoot-out.
Engels may not have consistently sprinkled stardust around grounds throughout the land since he first landed on these shores, but I genuinely think he is a class act.
I’m not surprised to hear Nottingham Forest may be interested in the player who has made 88 appearances for the Hoops and netted 15 goals along the way.
PUSH OFF… Hearts defender Stuart Findlay in a coming-together with Arne Engels.
However, there have been a few occasions where Engels has failed to turn up.
For instance, he has played every minute of the three games against Hearts this season and has not contributed anything remotely memorable as seven out of a possible nine points have been practically gifted to the Edinburgh team.
Engels was part of the Celtic midfield that alarmingly disintegrated at Tynecastle last weekend. For 25 minutes or so, the champions looked in control and were leading 1-0 following Benjamin Nygren’s stunning free-kick.
For no apparent reason, the middle-of-the-park performers – with Callum McGregor among them – began presenting the ball to grateful opponents as passes distressingly failed to hit their target.
It was nothing that Derek McInnes’ team had done to bring about this remarkable metamorphosis. It was all down to three main players failing to function.
It’s not the first time we have witnessed such an unfathomable set of circumstances from the men in the engine room.
YELLOW PERIL…Arne Engels is booked by referee Steven McLean during Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle last weekend.
We saw it again on Thursday night against FC Utrecht. Three goals ahead following a whirlwind 19 minutes, there was a mystifying sag as the Dutch got back into the contest, pulled one back, were denied a second by a full-length diving save from Kasper Schmeichel on the stroke of half-time and did manage a second just after the hour mark.
As I searched for the well-worn worry beads, Auston Trusty eased the tension with a fourth goal.
In reality, though, there should have been no hint of anxiety around the east end of Glasgow during the week.
If Celtic are to win a fifth successive title, the team will be required to produce at full capacity and potency on a match-by-match basis.
This is not a Hoops side that can afford to carry passengers.
No matter how much they cost.
ALEX GORDON
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Falkirk this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? Celtic Confidential is the stunning new book that brings the exclusive inside stories behind the headlines. Alex Gordon’s sixteenth Celtic book is available NOW. Order a copy and get £5 OFF the cover price of £25. All is revealed in a sensational new publication. Just click SHOP HERE and your book will be on its way. Happy reading!
