ARNE ENGELS scored the first goal at Parkhead since James Forrest flashed in the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with St Mirren on Trophy Day on May 17.
The £11million playmaker executed the perfect penalty-kick to send Newcastle United keeper Nick Pope the wrong way to pave the way for a 4-0 romp against Eddie Howe’s much-vaunted Tyneside outfit.
However, Engels is well aware of the main target for the Hoops in the early stages of the new season, with the Premiership campaign – and the bid for a fourteenth title in 15 years – kicking off a week on Sunday with the return of the Paisley club to the east end of Glasgow.
The smooth Belgian international operator, his team-mates and, of course, manager Brendan Rodgers are laser-focused on the crucial qualifying play-off for Europe’s elite competition next month.
WAIT FOR IT…Arne Engels prepares to slot in his penalty-kick against Newcastle United.
Engels said: “That’s the big goal of ours, to reach the Champions League. In a few weeks, there are really big games coming up.
“It’s up to us to now get physically ready for that and I’m sure we will do great in those two games. We just want to first get into the Champions League and then we will see how it goes.
“But we set a really big standard for ourselves in the Champions League and that’s also something that we can reach because we have a really good squad and we can cause a lot of teams real pain.”
Reflecting on the convincing victory over the Premier League outfit with Johnny Kenny, Yang Hyun-jun and Liam Scales also on the mark, Engels, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “We had good positions in possession and we played well.
“Physically, we feel really good. In the pressing, we did amazing.
“Overall, it was a really good game for us and also good to get a 4-0. It’s always nice to see that on the scoreboard.
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Arne Engels celebrates with team-mate Daizen Maeda about to add his congratulations.
“It helps confidence. It’s a pre-season game, so you never know how it would be, but it’s always good to get good results against good opponents.
“It’s up to us to now keep this going. We now go to Como and then we see how it goes there. But it’s up to us to maintain the standards we have set – and it’s only going to get better and better.”
Engels has netted eight of the nine penalty-kicks he has taken for the Hoops and it’s just a pity he wasn’t on the pitch at Hampden on May 24 when the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen ended 1-1 after extra-time and went to a spot-kick shoot-out.
Surprisingly, the elegant performer had been withdrawn by Brendan Rodgers shortly after the hour mark and it’s history now that the Dons won 5-3 with Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston fluffed their attempts from 12 yards.
It looks as though Engels is this season designated penalty-taker and he added: “It is always clear who is going to take them, so there’s not really a debate.
“The most important thing is to score. It doesn’t matter if it’s from the spot or somewhere else.
“I always want to be in that position and I always want to do my best for the team, if it’s scoring goals or assisting. It’s always nice to grab a goal.”
Long may it continue, Arne!
