Brendan Rodgers sends blunt message about Celtic player

Celtic FC v RB Leipzig - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4
Celtic FC v RB Leipzig - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 | Visionhaus/GettyImages

Celtic broke their transfer record this summer when they signed Arne Engels from FC Augsburg. The Belgian international was unsurprisingly put straight into the starting XI and he had big shoes to fill, with Matt O'Riley leaving for Brighton & Hove Albion. So far, his displays have been quite inconsistent, to be honest.

There have been games when Engels has done well and looked like the player Celtic broke their transfer record for. But then, there have been quite a few matches when he has not made much of an impact at all.

On the other hand, the likes of Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo have looked more convincing despite getting fewer chances. As a result, many want Engels to be dropped from the starting XI in favour of one of those two.

Some are already questioning whether Celtic got their recruitment wrong. But Brendan Rodgers does not seem to have any such concerns. As reported by 67 Hail Hail, the manager said:

"It won’t be the case, but I would hope that people will learn their lesson, the same people that were writing of Paulo and Nicolas Kuhn. It’ll be Arne Engels, or it’ll be someone else. You have to look and see that development takes time.

“Some will hit the ground running and be fine and adapt perfect, but not everyone is like that, especially a young player. I’ve been really pleased since he’s come in because I know the future for him; he will improve, he will develop, he will get better; we’ve seen it so many times."

Brendan Rodgers sends blunt message about Celtic player

That is a good comparison for sure. In recent times, we have seen quite a few players start slow at Parkhead before finding their feet and starting to show what they are truly capable of.

Just look at the difference between Nicolas Kuhn in the second half of last season and right now. It is day and night. Nobody would have seen that kind of form coming from the German winger who had fallen behind James Forrest in the pecking order at one point.

There is no reason that Engels could not do the same. But at the same time, it is also important to make the most of those players who are in form. In this scenario, that would be McCowan and Bernardo, who deserve more playing time than they have gotten this season.