“Everybody knows that we need to be on top of our game to win,” Arne Engels

The Celtic Star

·4 November 2024

“Everybody knows that we need to be on top of our game to win,” Arne Engels

Celtic’s record signing Arne Engels spoke to the media earlier today ahead of tomorrow evening’s mouth-watering Champions League match against RB Leipzig at Paradise under the lights…

Arne Engels at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Q: Arne, what are you expecting from tomorrow night’s opponents?

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Arne Engels: “We are expecting a really good team, and we are really prepared for it. We did some tactical things in the morning, so everybody is really excited for the game tomorrow and everybody’s ready.”

Q: Do you have memories of playing Leipzig and are they relevant given the way maybe the team has changed?

Arne Engels: “Yeah, I played some games against Leipzig of course, in the Bundesliga but every team is changing, and every team is improving. It’s a different team from last year, so that’s clear and I think they’re all really good players otherwise they don’t play in Leipzig. We have also a really good squad and we are also playing at home so it’s a really exciting game for us and the fans, I think.”

Arne Engels at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Q: Arne, how do you feel the season is going so far?

Arne Engels: “I think it’s going pretty well as I expected, the team is doing brilliantly, you saw it also the other night that we can be a real machine. I think everybody is in a good state, and everybody has a good mindset also so I think the season is going well for us. It’s now on to us to step up our game even more and I hope we will do that tomorrow.”

Q: Very good performance against Atalanta came after the Dortmund match, do the players feel they’ve got a point to prove given that you’re playing Bundesliga opposition again?

Arne Engels: “Not really. I think we want to win every game and that’s always our mindset and that’s always the mindset of Celtic. Also, we are playing at home, so of course we want to put in a good performance, and I think we will so it’s not really a revenge or something about a Bundesliga team at all, we just need to look at ourselves and be prepared and I think we will be.”

Arne Engels at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Q: How much are you looking forward to playing at Celtic Park again on a European night, after you had that experience in the opening match?

Arne Engels: “Yeah, it will be amazing I think. I cannot wait actually to see the fans again, to see the stadium, the crowds shouting and everything so it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere tomorrow. That will help us a lot, and as I said in previous interviews, it’s an amazing atmosphere that pushes us to the limits and I think we will get there.”

Q: How does it feel going into this one given the performance and the results against Atalanta?

Arne Engels: “I think we are pretty confident, we showed that we can really defend and can play against really good teams, you see also Atalanta is now in the Serie A playing really amazing football and beating Napoli at the weekend so that gives us real confidence that we can do this against really good teams. Like I said, we cannot wait to start the game tomorrow.”

Arne Engels at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Q: How are you handling the difference when you play against a team in Scotland to the massive jump-off in Europe because I imagine as a player mentally and physically that’s quite tough, isn’t it?

Arne Engels: “No, it’s the same if you play in the Champions League or if you play in the domestic league. Yeah, it’s a higher level of course, as it’s the biggest stage that you can play for so everybody is prepared. Everybody knows that they need to be on the top of their game tomorrow and I think Celtic played a lot of times already in the Champions League. Hence, everybody knows what to expect and what to do tomorrow and there’s nothing different in the other games than tomorrow I think.”

Q: You mentioned the fans and the atmosphere, how important is it to take advantage of that in these home matches, how vital can they be if you want to progress in the Champions League?

Arne Engels: “I think it can be crucial of course, we know that we have an amazing stadium, and an amazing fan base so of course we need to take advantage of this and get the crowds going so everybody will be full of energy tomorrow and I think the stadium will also be giving us a lot more energy tomorrow. It will be good.”

Arne Engels at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Q: After the Dortmund game there have maybe been some question marks over how the players would handle playing at the Champions League level against the top teams, but does that performance against Atalanta that give you the belief that the Celtic side can make it into the knockout stages of the Champions League this season?

Arne Engels: “Yeah of course, I think every time that we play in the Champions League it’s the goal to go to the knockouts or to go further in a tournament. I think we showed against Atalanta that we can also defend, and it’s maybe not the way that we always do it because we like to attack and play full of energy and that shows the other side of us. That shows also real confidence from our side that we can also do that and not only the other side, so I think that’s also a step in our game that we are improving and doing really well.”

Arne Engels at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Celtic against Aberdeen. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Q: We always talk about the step up to this level from the first three games, from your first three experiences of it, what is it like from a player’s point of view and what are the biggest lessons that have stood out so far.

Arne Engels: “I think it’s all been going really well actually. The first game was amazing, of course, like everybody saw, and then the second game you see that those teams can also hurt you when you’re not really into your shape or doing what we always do. Then against Atalanta you see everything is coming together and then you see that we also can also hurt some teams, and you see also in Atalanta that we can do the difficult parts also, and that’s a good thing.”

Q: Lots of competition in the squad just now particularly in midfield, does that mean in training there’s an extra bit of intensity just now?

Sivert Heltne Nilsen of Aberdeen is challenged by Arne Engels of Celtic during the Premier Sports Cup Semi-Final match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park on November 02, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Arne Engels: “It’s always full of intensity in training but you know if you play for Celtic there are always good players in every position – it’s like this most of the time in every club like this that you need to be prepared or doing your stuff that you always do – maybe now even more.”

Q: RB Leipzig haven’t won a game yet in the Champions League, is it important you don’t underestimate them tomorrow evening?

Arne Engels: “I think we will not underestimate them, everybody knows how good they are and you see it also in the Bundesliga that they are near the top of the league, so we will not underestimate them at all. Everybody knows the size of the club of RB Leipzig and everybody knows that we need to be on top of our game to win tomorrow.”

Q: The team played slightly more defensively in Atalanta, you spoke about that earlier, will that change tomorrow night given it’s at home in Celtic Park in front of the fans?

Arne Engels of Celtic scores the second goal from the penalty spot during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee FC at Celtic Park on October 30, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Arne Engels: “We will see that tomorrow.”

Q: Is there any Leipzig player you look especially on, maybe in the offence?

Arne Engels: “Yeah, I know some players there, of course, some Belgian guys and also Antonio Nusa, who played with at Club Brugge. It’s going to be nice to see them again tomorrow. It’s always nice to see some former teammates or teammates from the national team back, so I cannot wait to see them.”

This week’s Champions League fixtures. Image UEFA.com

Celtic in The Thirties – out tomorrow!

Matt Corr’s highly anticipated Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) are published tomorrow on Celtic Star Books. Order your copies today and receive signed copies which will be posted on Wednesday morning. Order at celticstarbooks.com