'Top five by default' - fans on Champions League chances
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Daily Record
a few seconds ago
- Daily Record
Arne Engels earns fierce Celtic defence as Brendan Rodgers hits out at 'negativity' towards record signing
The £11million man sparkled on his first start of the season as the Hoops swept past Falkirk to book their place in the quarter-finals Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic bought potential in Arne Engels - and says the £11million man will prove he's worth every penny. Club record signing Engels, 21, starred as the Hoops swept aside Falkirk 4-1 to book their place in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final. It was the Belgium international's first start of the season, after coming off the bench in the opening two league games against St Mirren and Aberdeen. Critics have questioned the massive outlay Celts shelled out last summer but Rodgers defended his midfielder and believes he's proved his quality on the Champions League stage. He said: 'Yeah, I think there's obviously negativity around Arne and some of these guys. 'But for a manager, we've put a really good player in. We take a really good player out. And then I can change it. 'And it's absolutely great for the squad. His attitude is great. He tired a little bit, a little bit of looseness towards the last five, ten minutes. 'But his quality from his set piece and his general work rate and intensity was great. He's a boy that gives everything. 'There's a lot on his shoulders as an expensive player. But we bought potential. The club has bought potential many times. And a lot of them aren't here. 'This is a guy who has potential, but it costs a little bit more. And you have to pay that little bit more because if you're going to be sat away in Bayern Munich and watching the team play and he has that athleticism, then that's what you need because it costs you money. 'He's nowhere near the finished article. We've just had to pay more for potential. You can buy potential at a million quid and two million quid. 'A lot of the time, it doesn't work. Sometimes it does. I will tell you a lot of time it doesn't. 'But him, we've had to pay a little bit more to get the athleticism, to get the physicality that this team needed. 'And now I've got great options in there. Guys that are physical, but guys that are technical. So I don't complain.' Rodgers made six changes as a second-half goal blitz saw the Hoops cruise into tonight's last eight draw. And it was a day to remember for youngster Dane Murray, who celebrated signing a new four-year contract by scoring his first goal for the club. Rodgers said: 'It was great for him because he's a great boy. He's got a lot of potential. And I think over the next 12 to 18 months, he's going to really grow. 'I think his ceiling's so high. There's areas of the game that he needs to clearly, obviously, work on. But he's six foot four. He's quick. He can take the ball. 'He has a comfort with the ball, which aligns with top players. And he just, again, concentration is something that's key for defenders. But I really, really like him. 'And that's hence the reason we've tied him down. And I think he's got a great future.' Striker Johnny Kenny was handed a rare start but couldn't get on the scoresheet. However, Rodgers was happy with the 22-year-old's performance and said: 'Yes, I think he worked very, very hard. 'He's an honest boy who gives his all in the game. And that's what the team's about. And didn't have so many chances. 'A couple of good wee runs, didn't quite drop to him in the box. But he worked very hard and then created the chance then for Shane to come on.' Falkirk boss John McGlynn had no complaints over the scoreline as he added: ' Celtic were very very good tonight. 'They were excellent in the way they moved the ball and the pace and intensity. "We just couldn't live with them. We tried our best but you see the difference. We have to do better.' Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Scottish Sun
a few seconds ago
- Scottish Sun
Premier League's richest are getting richer but that's a concern.. and it could ruin English football from top to bottom
There is a huge disparity in kit deal revenue within the Prem KARREN BRADY Premier League's richest are getting richer but that's a concern.. and it could ruin English football from top to bottom Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FRESH start, a new Premier League season and there's a nice, warm feeling in the pit of every football fan's stomach, which has nothing to do with the fact it's hotter than the hinges of hell. That feeling is called hope. Hope of what fortunes a new campaign can bring for your club. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The Premier League returns this weekend Credit: PA I'm not alone in saying that there are issues which the Prem needs to address and not surprisingly it revolves around money. Or more correctly, where it is going? The gap between the so-called 'big clubs' and the rest is growing. Qualification for the Champions League for our six teams — Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham — means a whopping extra £150million on top of PL income. Then add the $100m (£75m) Chelsea earned from winning the Club World Cup this summer. Then take this into account — Liverpool and City have kit deals for this season which bring in another £100m. United's is just behind at £90m. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Field generals Five midfield engines Man Utd could swoop for if Baleba transfer fails At the other end of the scale, Sunderland will make just £500,000 from their kit deal and Burnley £1m. That is a huge disparity of a monstrous £99.5m between top and bottom . In the week the latest A-level results were released, it does not take anything like that qualification in mathematics to work out that the wealthy clubs are getting wealthier — and that must have an impact on competitiveness. This is a worry because the Premier League is the best in the world. It is the most watched, most loved competition which the rest of the globe follows every week. From Singapore to Santiago, Sydney to San Francisco, it is the one that tops the lot. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Its popularity has been born out of its unpredictability, with every side capable of beating everyone else on any given day. How much longer that is the case remains to be seen? Leicester won the title in 2016 under Claudio Ranieri. No one saw that coming, but it proved that it could be done. Yet last season, only Nottingham Forest gave the top six a real run for their money. Man City want Rodrygo as Savinho replacement | Transfers Exposed Football fans should be concerned by this because the beauty of the Premier League is in its unforeseeable nature. In May's FA Cup final, Crystal Palace showed the way by beating Manchester City then followed up with a win over Liverpool in the Community Shield. The Prem must get this right because a league where the same teams win every year is not competitive — it is France's Ligue 1 whose broadcast revenues have recently taken a dive. This should be a real concern for football fans everywhere as the PL is the sole funder of the ENTIRE football system, from the EFL to the National League to the WSL. We need to ensure the Premier League continues to thrive to generate the revenues required to fund the whole football ecosystem. 3 Chelsea netted a huge amount for winning the Club World Cup Credit: Getty 3 Crystal Palace won the FA Cup back in May Credit: PA At the other end of the table there has been a lot said about the clubs — Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley — coming up. In the last two seasons the three promoted to the top flight went straight back down again. What we have to be careful about is that this does not become a regular scenario. It would not be a good for the Premier League to have the same teams going up and down every season. The average PL attendance is over 40,000 and virtually all games are a complete sell-out. It suggests we must be doing something right but it is precious and needs constant care and attention. And that brings me to West Ham. In an era when too many clubs have bought players without a clear plan, this year we are targeting signings who genuinely improve the team. We know it's not about how much you spend, it's how you spend it. It's about adding quality that makes an immediate impact, strengthening where it counts and making sure every new arrival moves us closer to challenging the very best. That's why, as this season kicks off, there's real hope around the London Stadium — hope built not on blind optimism but on a squad being shaped to deliver for our supporters.
Scottish Sun
a few seconds ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment Celtic ace cheekily tries to get upper hand over old team-mate Scott Bain as he nabs Falkirk goalie's cheat sheet
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) YOU certainly can't accuse Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain of not doing his homework. It was always going to a tough examination of where Falkirk are this season to overcome Celtic at Celtic Park in the Premier Sports Cup. 4 Falkirk goalkeeper Bain has cheat sheet on his water bottle Credit: PA 4 Bain was a busy man Credit: PA 4 The homework on the Celtic penalty takers catches the eye of Kenny Credit: Getty But shot-stopper Bain was prepared for all eventualities. He spent SEVEN years with the Hoops and faced his former team-mates every day in training so got to know them pretty well. So with the odds stacked against the Bairns, the 33-year-old used the insight gleaned from his time at Lennoxtown to try to gain the upperhand when the teams faced each other on Friday night. Falkirk gave Celtic a fright last season when they led at Celtic Park. But the game turned on its head after the Hoops turned to their all-star bench as Brendan Rodgers' men ran out comfortable 5-2 winners. This time however, Celtic were superior with Bain by far the busier goalkeeper. Celtic peppered the goal with 19 shots, eight on target and four saves. Bain needed a drink of water - possibly something stronger. And Hoops striker Johnny Kenny spotted something unusual about the Falkirk keeper's water bottle and wanted a closer look. Down the side of it Bain had a list of Celtic penalty takers and their preferred direction to put their spotkick. It could have come in handy, but in the end mattered very little as Celtic ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. Falkirk boss John McGlynn on his one remaining management dream and how his PLUMBING skills were put to use Daizen Maeda and Alistair Johnston had the Hoops in a commanding position after Arne Engels had cracked the post. Before Dane Murray marked his new contract at Celtic with a goal and Liam Henderson's own goal made it four. Keelan Adams scored a cracking consolation for the Bairns as Celtic sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup and set themselves up nicely for a crucial Champions League qualifier against Kairat Almaty next week. 4 Celtic penalty takers and their preferred direction Credit: PA Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
