ARNE ENGELS is hoping to make an impact against Borussia Dortmund in matchday two of the Champions League tonight.
And Celtic’s £11million record signing is also aiming to make a lasting impression on the Bundesliga team’s boss Nuri Sahin.
Brendan Rodgers’ opposite number admitted he didn’t know too much about the 21-year-old midfielder during his time in the German top-flight with Augsburg.
Engels isn’t one bit fazed by his anonymity as far as Sahin is concerned, but, if all goes according to plan in the Westfalenstadion this evening, the Borussia head coach may have many reasons to remember the identity of the playmaker who has hit the ground running in Glasgow.
MEET THE PRESS…Arne Engels delivers his Celtic Views.
Since his deadline-day recruitment, the youngster has featured in the heat of a Glasgow derby confrontation and deemed it “amazing” as he acknowledged his new fans following the champions’ 3-0 triumph.
He has made his debut on Europe’s elite competition and confidently tucked away a penalty-kick in the 5-1 romp against Slovan Bratislava at a rocking Parkhead last month.
Engels had already experienced the feeling of netting in Paradise when he smoothed a spot-kick past ex-Celt Craig Gordon in the 2-0 win over Hearts.
The gifted Belgian international is no stranger to the home of Borussia Dortmund and actually made his first appearance for Augsburg in a thrilling rollercoaster 4-3 loss. He was also involved in a 5-1 hammering at the same venue last season.
Engels’ reaction to the observation by Sahin was nonchalant as he countered with quiet menace: “We will see. I don’t want to say a lot about it, but we will see.
“We just need to think about the team and how the team performs and then the rest will follow.
“Does it give me more motivation? Not really. It’s like another game for me. I just want to perform really well at the highest level. It’s a good challenge for me also and for the team.
“It’s always nice to come here and come back and to see where you were in one year or two years before, but it’s just another game.
“It is an amazing stadium and the atmosphere will be electric and fantastic. I spoke to a lot of players about this atmosphere and the Yellow Wall.
“But we also have an amazing atmosphere at Celtic Park which is kind of the same. If you can play at Celtic Park, you can play anywhere.”
Engels, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “You always hope to achieve it, playing at this level. It’s a kid’s dream and now it’s coming true. It’s an amazing feeling also for me
“But I’m here to perform and not to live the dream.
“It’s going to be really nice for me. I think you always need to have the winning mentality. Everybody in our squad has this and that makes us really strong.
“Everybody knows Borussia Dortmund. They played in the Final last season [losing 2-0 to Real Madrid], so it’s not something you reach of being another good team.
“It’s going to be a tough match, but we are ready for it so we will see.”
The eye-catching middle-of-the-park performer will also have his personal fan club to cheer him on this evening.
There will be something in the region of 3,500 visiting supporters in the vast arena and the new Bhoy will have encouragement from a special pocket of followers who will have made the road trip from his hometown of Opwijk just across the border in Belgium.
His family have bought a van to ferry them to games and his parents will be accompanied by an assortment of the player’s aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and friends.
Many made the journey to the east end of Glasgow to see Engels star in the rout of the Slovaks a couple of weeks ago and the the multi-skilled Hoops star added: “It’s a special feeling to have them in the stands.
“My parents were also there last time for the Champions League against Bratislava.
“They said it was amazing. They never experienced something like that – me neither, actually.
“It was really amazing to have them there and also score in front of them and perform.
“The team is doing really good at the moment. We stick to the basics and we are in a good mood.
“If you don’t have the belief then just don’t come here.
“We want to play and win, you always have to have this kind of mindset.”
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Borussia Dortmund v Celtic this evening – only in your champion CQN.
