Arne Engels undeterred by criticism and feels completely at home at Celtic

The Celtic Star

·14 April 2025

Arne Engels undeterred by criticism and feels completely at home at Celtic

Arne Engels insists he’s undeterred by criticism and feels completely at home at Celtic following his £11m transfer from Bundesliga side Augsburg last summer…

Adam Idah of Celtic celebrates scoring the second goal with teammate Arne Engels and Cameron Carter-Vickers during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025.. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The midfielder set a new transfer record for the soon-to-be four-in-a-row Scottish champions when he arrived just before the deadline. Since joining, Arne Engels has featured 46 times for Celtic, netting 10 goals and providing 12 assists.

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Arne’s time in Glasgow hasn’t been without its challenges

However, his time in Glasgow hasn’t been without its challenges. At times, the Belgian has faced criticism, particularly after missing a penalty in Celtic’s vital Champions League encounter with BSC Young Boys in January.

Arne Engels. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, Engels has not allowed external pressure to affect his performance: “I don’t read a lot so that’s a good point that I’m not really watching those things on the internet,” he said to the Official Celtic FC Podcast.

‘I’m still a young player and it’s my first season here’

“I just know what I’m doing, I’m still a young player and it’s my first season here. I still need to work on things and also settle in. Now, I’m really settled in and I know everything now. Everything is also going really well next to the pitch so it’s now up to me to focus on my game, and do the things I need to do every day to improve also in the gym and stuff.

Arne Engels of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 training on January 28, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“But I think I coped really well with it and I wasn’t really stressing because I was believing in my own qualities.

‘I hope that I can help the team a little bit more with those things’

“That’s also a good point of me, that I’m not really thinking about the bad things every time but also knowing my qualities and abilities, that I’m capable of trying to do something and trying to get an assist or a goal.

“Yeah, I hope that I can help the team a little bit more with those things, and I’m sure I will.”

Celtic v Hearts – Arne Engels during the match at Celtic Park on 14 September 2024. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/PSI

Engels on course for debut season treble

Engels will be aiming to secure a few more trophies before the season concludes. Celtic are just one point shy of clinching the Scottish Premiership title and can seal a spot in the Scottish Cup final by defeating St Johnstone in Easter Sunday’s semi-final at Hampden.

Conor Spence

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