Record signing Arne Engels proves that the price was right as Celtic get off to a Champions League flyer with 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava
When you break your transfer record once over a summer, it’s seen as a statement of intent. If it happens a second time, you mean serious business.
With all due respect to the flotsam and jetsam of the Scottish Premiership, Celtic did not lavish £9.5million on Adam Idah and £11m on Arne Engels merely to continue their domination of the domestic game.
A radical departure from the kind of transfer tombola the club indulged in 12 months previously, the acquisition of the pair was done to make an appreciable impact on the Champions League.
The first night of the new format in the competition or not, there was pressure on Brendan Rodgers’ big-money signings to deliver here.
Idah was always going to be held in reserve for the moment when Kyogo Furuhashi’s legs could give no more.
Almost one year on from Matt O’Riley announcing himself to a wider audience with a sparkling display against Atletico Madrid, the spotlight was firmly trained on the man signed as his replacement.
Record signing Arne Engels celebrates scoring in Celtic’s 5-1 thrashing of Slovan Bratisl
Record signing Arne Engels celebrates scoring in Celtic’s 5-1 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava
The Belgian coolly made it 3-0 by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The Belgian coolly made it 3-0 by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Engels’ physicality was a welcome weapon for Celtic who blew their Slovakian opponents away
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Engels has only just turned 21, but the price tag on his back has denied him a honeymoon period in Glasgow.
He’d showed up in well in his cameo role against Rangers and in his first start against Hearts in which he netted his first goal. But this was the acid test for the former Augsburg midfielder. The kind of occasion he was signed for.
Unbeknown to the Belgian, the atmosphere in the build-up felt distinct from so many nights that had gone before.
Home advantage was one factor in that. As was Slovan’s novice status on this stage. The Slovakian champions deserved respect, but Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, they were not.
More than anything, though, the substantial investment made in Rodgers’ side over the summer felt commensurate with the task at hand. Unlike a year ago when his squad looked patchy, it had depth. The air around the old place was filled with anticipation rather than just hope.
‘It feels like the most ready I’ve been as Celtic manager coming into a Champions League campaign,’ said the manager on Tuesday.
That sentiment was shared by all inside the cavernous arena. Packed to the gunwales, the cacophony as kick-off approached threatened to make the eardrums bleed.
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Amid the chaos, Engels searched for a first touch and a moment to impose himself.
This was not easy. For company, he had Slovakia veteran Juraj Kucka and seasoned Ukraine international Danylo Ihnatenko. With Slovan sitting deep, space was at a premium. Engels had to go searching for it.
It was a night when his physicality was a welcome weapon. The visitors were not shy at putting themselves about, with three yellow cards coming their way inside the opening half hour.
The Belgian felt Vladimir Weiss clipping his ankles before the game had even settled. As if the former Rangers man wasn’t unpopular enough in these parts.
Once he got his breath, Engels was able to demonstrate his full repertoire of skills.
Impossibly composed, he pulled one ball out of the air with a velvet touch. With a shift of the hips, he then took two opponents out of the game.
His quicksilver shuffling and bounding stride took him into promising areas. When he lost it, he worked back to recover possession. He grew into the contest.
He launched a fusillade of corners at the goalmouth. Each was repelled.
He took command of a free-kick 25 yards out but could only find the wall. It turned out he was only getting his eye in.
His next set-piece opportunity was a corner with the Green Brigade breathing down his neck. He picked out Liam Scales at the near post. A twist of the Irishman’s neck and Celtic Park was in uproar.
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The break found Celtic ahead, but regretting chances spurned by Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda. Engels had also fizzed one straight at the keeper and would repeat the trick in the opening seconds of the second period. It mattered little.
In the blink of an eye, Nicolas Kuhn had advanced down the right, making the defenders look like mannequins. Furuhashi helped himself to a tap-in at the far post.
Given the way Celtic had flown out of the traps, it was already a question of how many they’d score.
Ihnatenko’s foul on Alistair Johnston gave Engels the chance to make it three from the spot. He was never missing.
Untidy defending saw Kevin Wimmer pull one back, but the lull lasted only nine minutes. Maeda’s clinical finish after being played in by Reo Hatate ensured Slovan were done for.
The heavy lifting had already been done, but there was still time for Idah to step off the bench and make it five with a brilliant finish.
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With Engels running the show, Celtic were simply magnificent. You do indeed get what you pay for.
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