Latest news with #ArneEngels
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Arne Engels hungry to dish out Celtic Champions League pain after putting the boot into Newcastle
The Belgian playmaker reckons the weekend friendly win has whetted the appetite to make it back to the group stages Arne Engels enjoyed stuffing Newcastle United into the Parkhead hurt locker at the weekend. And it's given the Belgian a taste for inflicting more pain in the Champions League. The Hoops are still a work in progress in pre-season but the confidence levels are soaring after a couple of sparkling displays against Sporting and the Magpies. Eddie Howe 's Newcastle brought 10,000 fans north of the border on Saturday who expected to see their Champions League bound Premier League powerhouses give the Scots a sore one. Instead they were sent homeward to think again by a lethal performance from Brendan Rodgers ' men. Seeing off top qualify opposition has only whetted the appetite for Engels – and he's determined to make sure Celtic get to the big time when the do-or-die qualifying play-off comes around next month. The midfielder – who notched from the spot against the Geordies – said: 'Yes, 100 percent. That's a 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 really ready for that, and I'm sure we will do really great in those two games. 'It's a bit like we are waiting until the game is there and then hopefully everybody's ready then. 'We just want to first get into the Champions League and then we will see how it goes there. '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. 'But it's not that easy that everybody is saying you need to reach the same thing or you need to reach further because we did really great. But it's up to us to show like Saturday that we are a really good squad and that we can cause a lot of teams real pain. But we'll see how it goes.' It was a pain game for Newcastle on Saturday. In fairness, Howe's side are a week behind the Hoops in terms of fitness and were given the runaround by the end. Celts weathered some early pressure then turned the screws, with Daizen Maeda torturing the visitors while the likes of Auston Trusty marshalled the backline. Engels started the rout after winning and converting from the spot, Johnny Kenny pounced on a mistake from keeper Nick Pope to make it two and then in the second half livewire Yang buried from close range before returning hero Kieran Tierney teed up Liam Scales. It was the perfect preparation and Engels said: "It was a really good game. 'We had good positions in possession, and we really played well. 'It was a really good game and also physically we feel really good. In the pressing, we did amazing. 'Overall, it was a really good game for us and also really good to get a 4-0. 'It's always nice to see that on the scoreboard. 'It's good for the confidence. It's a preseason 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 and then we go now to Como and then we see how it goes there. But it's up to us to just maintain the standards that we have set for each other, and it's only going to get better and better.' Newcastle are a big lump of a side but Engels reckons the bigger the better for Celts. He said: "We have a lot of football qualities that we can play really good football and sometimes that suits us better than if the opponent is a bit bigger. 'It's also the same as in the league competition; a lot of opponents have a lot of big guys in the back. 'But it's then up to us to just go through it and really play well and try to play football on the ground, because in the air maybe you will not win it. 'But then you see with the goal that Kasper had the assist, we can play also in the air, so we can mix it up and that makes our squad really good.' Engels has been lethal from 12 yards for Celts with eight out of nine slotted last season to leave no arguments over who is the main man from the spot. He said: "No, not really. It is always clear who is going to take them, so there's not really a debate about that. "I was a bit angry that he touched my leg and that I got a penalty! But in the end 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 and it will come.' Celtic still need new signings but Engels has been bowled over by the initial new arrivals, including Hayato Inamura, who again caught the eye at the weekend. He said: 'You could see he's really adapting really well and he's also good in the group. He's a guy that is really wanting to learn and wanting to try his best, and you see today that he has a lot of quality. 'I'm really happy for him that he can show that also now in Celtic Park to everybody what he's up to, and I think we will see a lot of him. "Everybody that came in is really impressing us. Everybody is still settling in, doing well, and adapting to the system and to the style of play.'
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
What Rodgers thought was 'incredible' at Celtic vs Newcastle
The Northern Irishman's side came away with an impressive performance and result as they thumped the English Premier League outfit with two goals in the first half and two in the second. Arne Engels, Johnny Kenny, Yang and Liam Scales found the net as optimism grew for the season ahead and gave the manager plenty to be optimistic about. On the flip side, it will not have made for pleasant viewing for Newcastle supporters. However, Rodgers had plenty of words of encouragement for their fan base after their own impressive showing off the park, branding their following "absolutely incredible." He also reckons Eddie Howe's team team will be absolutely fine once the competitive stuff comes around. "I primarily focus on my own team but, two weeks ahead, you start that little bit earlier," the Celtic boss told said. "Newcastle will get there. They're obviously building up. "But we're still playing against really top players who, if they're playing two 45s, will certainly be at a good level for 45 minutes or want to be. Read more: "It's great for a club like Newcastle to come here. You've seen their support. It was absolutely incredible, which made for a great atmosphere in the stadium with nearly 50,000 here." Howe admitted post-match that Celtic was a test that perhaps came too soon for his men at this early stage of their pre-season. "We take a load from that. That was a really good test for us," he told Newcastle club media. "This was a test that maybe came a little bit too early for us. "We've had a long week in Austria. Not making excuses by the way but the lads came into the game jaded, slightly. "It was a great workout for us. I think Celtic played very well. "I thought we played well in phases of the game, we created chances and should have scored a couple of goals. "Overall, I think the team will be better for the game."
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Celtic 4 Newcastle 0 – Hoops silence 10,000 travelling fans as Callum McGregor lifts another trophy after Parkhead rout
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CELTIC powered to a comprehensive Adidas Cup victory over their Premier League opponents - with Kieran Tierney grabbing an assist on his return. Second-half sub Tierney's cross was bulleted home by Liam Scales for his side's fourth goal at a sodden Celtic Park. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 6 Arne Engels opens the scoring from the spot Credit: Kenny Ramsay 6 Johnny Kenny celebrates second goal Credit: Kenny Ramsay 6 Yang Hyun-Jun made it three in the second half Credit: PA 6 Liam Scales rounded off the scoring with a header Credit: Getty Arne Engels penalty and Johnny Kenny's tap-in - after Nick Pope's howler - had Celtic in control at the break, with Hyunjun Yang adding an easy third. Eddie Howe had picked an experienced Newcastle side with five 30-somethings in their starting line-up and £55m Anthony Elanga on the bench. Joelinton was nowhere to be seen as he recovers from a knee injury while Alexander Isak was also absent as he battles back from a groin issue. Toon boss Howe came close to being named the Celtic manager four years ago but an issue regarding recruiting his backroom team saw the approach crumble. For his Champions League-bound side, their first public outing of the season was a long way from the start Howe had envisioned. Their 10,000-strong travelling support was initially raucous - but they were numerically diminished and very subdued by time-up. They'd beaten Carlisle 4-0 in a training HQ closed-door friendly last week but after a bright start, their defensive rustiness was ruthlessly punished by Celtic. They now head for a Far East tour where they'll face Arsenal, a K League select and Spurs. Celtic started with Kasper Schmeichel in goal, a back four of Tony Ralston, Dane Murray, Auston Trusty and Hayato Inamura. Callum McGregor was joined in midfield by Luke McCowan and Engels, with Yang and Daizen Maeda either side of Kenny up front. Fabian Schar got an early taste of the relentless nature of one Celtic favourite. He seemed to have done the hard work when he turned inside with the ball as Maeda slid past him in an effort to block. Celtic star Daizen Maeda spotted doing press-ups in technical area after being subbed-off against Sporting Lisbon But the Swiss took a fatal touch as he looked forward and found his pass blocked by the Japanese who'd sprung to his feet and raced back into action. The veteran United defender threw up his arms in exasperation. He was in similar bother moments later when he almost gifted Celtic the lead. The alert Maeda robbed skipper Bruno Guimaraes in midfield and from Yang's cross, Schar deflected the ball towards his own goal - and was grateful to Nick Pope who clawed the ball away for a corner. But home keeper Schmeichel was also in action as a bright United side forced the pace, touching William Osula's deflected drive over the top. The Toon Army were creating a terrific atmosphere but they were subdued for practically the first time after 26 minutes when Celtic went in front. Inevitably Maeda was involved, stretching the visiting defence and getting wide of Kieran Trippier. His low cross looked destined for Engels who was tripped going for it by Joe Willock. Nick Walsh pointed to the spot and Engels rattled in the penalty. 6 A limp header by Jacob Murphy into Schmeichel's arms was all United offered by way of immediate response. Celtic should have doubled their lead when Yang cut open the visiting defence and seemed to have left Johnny Kenny with a tap-in - but he made a poor contact with the cross and the opportunity was gone. But the home side sent their fans in at the interval after a catastrophic blunder by Pope presented Kenny with the easiest goal he'll ever score. Schmeichel's kick-out should've been straightforward for the keeper as he came out of his box, but he misjudged the bounce as he attempted to head clear. It sailed over him and Kenny was left to convert the simplest of tap-ins. United made nine changes at the break, with Elanga and Anthony Gordon among the arrivals. One of them, Alex Murphy, immediately powered down the left and his cross was met by Osula - whose effort was brilliantly blocked at point-blank range by Schmeichel. The Toon changes were still taking shape when the visitors fell further behind. 6 Full-back Emil Krafth was left one-on-one with Maeda with the inevitable consequences. He cut inside and rolled the ball across for Yang to finish easily. Kieran Tierney got the expected rousing reception when he made his Celtic Park return as a sub after 55 minutes, replacing Inamura, who had looked composed at left-back. Five minutes later, Rodgers replaced the remaining ten players, with new arrival Benjamin Nygren on as well as youngsters Ben McPherson and Colby Donovan. Nygren was immediately involved, touching the ball on for Adam Idah, who poked his effort narrowly wide of Martin Dubravka's post. Newcastle might have been reduced to ten men when Dan Burn felled Idah in a last-man challenge. Nick Walsh opted for yellow, to the disappointment of the home support. Scotland under-21 defender McPherson's cross set up Idah for a header over the top then Reo Hatate's drive was saved. But Newcastle were looking weary and it was no surprise when Celtic added a fourth after 75 minutes. Tierney's cross was bulleted into the top corner by Scales to round off a highly satisfactory display for Brendan Rodgers. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The National
3 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Celtic 4 Newcastle 0: Instant reaction to the burning issues
An Arne Engels penalty got the ball rolling before an almighty howler from Newcastle keeper Nick Pope allowed Johnny Kenny to latch onto a long punt from Kasper Schmeichel and tap home a second before the break. A raft of changes on both sides failed to change the flow of the game, and Yang Hyunjun rolled home a third after great work from Daizen Maeda, before Liam Scales put the icing on the cake as he headed home from a Kieran Tierney cross. Here are the talking points from Celtic Park… Celtic put on a show in feisty friendly The presence of around 10,000 Geordies in the away end gave this a feel of a more meaningful affair than it ultimately was, but it was Celtic who put on a show for their fans with a clinical display against the English Premier League giants. After putting Sporting to the sword during the week, this was another fillip for the Celts and their supporters, with Brendan Rodgers' side clicking into gear and making the expensively assembled Newcastle outfit look distinctly average at times. Yes, Howe's men are a little behind Celtic in their preseason preparations, and it was only a friendly, but it's always good to see a Scottish team putting one over our cousins to the south, and there was plenty here for the Celtic fans to be encouraged about. Maeda must be kept at all costs There has been a bit of noise around the Japanese winger this week, with EPL outfits Everton and Brentford credited with an interest in taking him south. And seeing what he was able to do here against one of their rivals, it is little wonder. His famously relentless work rate has never been in question, and he had Kieran Trippier and half-time substitute Emil Krafth run ragged, but it was the composure he added to his game last season that took him to another level. He showed that again here when Celtic scored their third, as he raced clear and then got his head up to put the ball on a plate for Yang to tap home. So key to this team has he become that Celtic will want to keep Maeda at all costs, but it is easy to see why clubs with even deeper pockets are beginning to circle. Auston Trusty looking strong as he bids to win over doubters It's fair to say that the big American has yet to fully convince the Celtic support that he is good enough to be a mainstay of their defence alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, with a smattering of impressive displays like his showing in the goalless draw with Atalanta last term overshadowed somewhat by a tendency to drop his concentration in lower key matches. He has been accused too of being a little soft at times, exemplified in a game at Dens Park last term where he drew heavy criticism, but he was right on his game here, putting in a man of the match performance and looking strong up against the physical presence of big Newcastle striker William Osula. The challenge now for the defender is to maintain this level of performance when it all kicks off for real, and maybe then he will be able to dispel any lingering doubts about his place at the heart of the backline. Tierney's triumphant return The loudest cheer of the day didn't accompany any of Celtic's goals, but was reserved for the return of prodigal son Tierney, who was brought on as a substitute by manager Rodgers before he made a further 10 changes so that he could enjoy the acclaim of his fellow Celtic supporters. Tierney spoke on Friday of how emotional his return to Celtic Park after six years away would be, and no doubt it would have been a special moment for the left back as he stepped back onto the pitch. But he also put on record how important it was for him to return home when he was still at the peak of his powers, and the 28-year-old certainly looked sharp, putting in a great cross for Scales to head home the final goal of the day. There was but a fleeting glimpse of the link up with Maeda down Celtic's left-hand side before the winger was taken off, but when those two are both fully fit and firing, it is a tantalising prospect. More signings to come? Perhaps in a bid to remind the supporters that business had in fact been done in this window, Celtic paraded new arrival Shin Yamada on the pitch before the game, with his hearty and remarkably Scottish-sounding 'Mon the Hoops' winning over his new supporters before he has even kicked a ball. On the team sheet though there was only one new arrival, with Yamada's compatriot Hayato Inamura starting at left back. Ten changes on the hour brought Benjamin Nygren onto the pitch too, but even though Rodgers could put on two entirely different XIs and Celtic still looked strong against such a high level opponent, both he and the supporters will still be hoping for a few new faces in the coming weeks.
Glasgow Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Arne Engels in Celtic vow as he makes Treble admission
The team, favourites to win another Treble, fell short despite a strong start. They clinched the Premier Sports Cup early in the campaign and took a commanding lead over Rangers in the title race. However, their chance at another clean sweep of Scottish football's major honours was dashed when they faced Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup. Brendan Rodgers' side also narrowly missed a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League, losing to Bayern Munich in extra time. Read more: Record-breaking signing Arne Engels insists the squad is determined to erase these bad memories. He said: "Yeah, 100 per cent because we were all focused on getting that Treble and that was a really big disappointment, for myself and for the other boys also. "When I went into the dressing room afterwards the mood wasn't really there and that's normal. "You have to feel like that after such a big disappointment, but we also felt that way after the Bayern Munich game earlier in the season and in the games after that we were really good. "So it's up to us to get that anger a little bit into our game. "Then we will see how the season moves on and it's up to us to try and win all the games. "That's why Celtic is such a big club, to try and win all the games." He acknowledges their strong performance in the Champions League and league but admits the season's end was disappointing. He said: "Even though we had a really good season, we did really good in the Champions League and into the league, that was a bit of a disappointing end to the season. "Now there is the aim for us to go for next season, so maybe that's a good thing for us that we want to have the Treble and it's up to us to now show that in the early games."
