Arne Engels: Rising Above Expectations at Celtic
Arne Engels, the 21-year-old Belgian midfielder, has been making waves at Celtic since his record-breaking £11m signing. With the weight of expectations and opinions from fans and critics alike, Engels has shown remarkable maturity and focus in his approach to the game.
Blocking Out the Noise
Engels has demonstrated a level of composure beyond his years, choosing to focus only on the feedback that matters most to him – that of his manager, Brendan Rodgers, the coaching staff, and his teammates. This ability to filter out the distractions and concentrate on his performance on the pitch has been key to his success.
In his own words, Engels shared, “I’m relaxed in every game. I just want to do my best and try to help the team. I don’t really see a lot of the things that are written or anything. So that’s maybe a good thing that I don’t read a lot into the newspapers.”
Learning and Growing Every Day
Engels credits Rodgers for not only guiding him as a player but also helping him adapt to life in a new country. The manager’s personalized approach and genuine interest in his players’ well-being have created a supportive environment for Engels to thrive both on and off the pitch.
Engels expressed his gratitude, stating, “He’s a manager that really wants to know how you feel and how you are as a person. So, that’s also a warm welcome that you have here if you speak to him.”
Looking Towards Champions League Success
As Celtic gears up for a crucial Champions League clash against Young Boys, Engels sees an opportunity to showcase the progress he has made since joining the club. Reflecting on their impressive performance against RB Leipzig, Engels believes that Celtic has the potential to deliver an even stronger display and secure a spot in the play-off round.
Engels emphasized, “I think we are ready for it, and that was in November, so it’s already two or three months behind us. We’ve improved as a squad, we’ve improved as players, so I think we are even better now, and I think we can put on an even more complete game.”
In conclusion, Arne Engels’ journey at Celtic is not just about meeting expectations but exceeding them. With a blend of talent, hard work, and unwavering focus, Engels continues to carve out his place in the team and the hearts of the fans.
