It was the top of an period for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers, who tendered his resignation this week after a string of disappointing ends in all competitions.
The Hoops had the consideration of defeating Sturm Graz within the Europa League final week, however they’ve additionally misplaced three of their final 5 video games, together with the final two within the Scottish Premiership.
Dane Murray scored an personal objective and conceded a penalty in a uncommon begin towards league leaders Hearts on Sunday, giving them an eight-point lead on the prime of the desk.
The Hoops are within the distinctive place of chasing down the leaders, however Rodgers has determined that he’s not the particular person to take the membership ahead.
Celtic have already confirmed that extremely skilled supervisor Martin O’Neill will lead the facet in an interim interval till a everlasting head coach is introduced.
The previous Hoops supervisor may have a giant determination to make in his squad choice for the sport towards Falkirk, however Arne Engels is one participant whose future on the membership is in some doubt as a consequence of his performances.
Why Arne Engels’ future at Celtic is unsure
The Scottish giants broke a switch document by signing the Belgian worldwide from Augsburg for an £11 million switch in the summertime of 2024 to strengthen their choices in the midst of the park.
Based on Transfermarkt, the 21-year-old’s return to motion with 10 targets and 13 assists in 52 video games throughout all competitions was a powerful efficiency for him, taking part in for Scotland for the primary time regardless of the strain of switch charges.
Sadly, Engels has not been in a position to make an impression within the present Scottish Premiership, having solely featured within the beginning XI for 4 of the eight video games.
25/26 Premiership | Arne Engels | Comparability of percentile rank and CM |
|---|---|---|
xG | 0.42 | Prime 33% |
the objective | 0 | backside 3% |
Shah | 0.48 | Prime 49% |
help | 0 | backside 3% |
received a duel | 16 | backside 31% |
Duel success price | 29% | backside 4% |
intercept | 2 | backside 18% |
Statistics by FotMob | ||
As may be seen from the desk above, Belgium’s central midfielders haven’t been in a position to carry out very properly in possession, whereas in midfield they’ve struggled considerably off the ball.
His dismal type within the Premiership and lack of begins might put his future unsure forward of the January switch window. That is as a result of he is an £11 million asset and his worth will not enhance if he performs poorly.
Nevertheless, there was a vibrant spot in final week’s recreation towards Sturm Graz. Based on Sofascore, he completed the match with an help for the profitable objective, in addition to creating 5 vital passes and three “large probabilities”, as seen within the clip above.
That efficiency was a step in the proper course for Engels, displaying he’s nonetheless able to delivering high quality performances in the midst of the park for the Hoops, which is why O’Neill should not go away him out of his eleven.
Nevertheless, one participant who must be instantly deserted by the interim supervisor is Reo Hatate, whose efficiency stage has considerably declined this season.
Why ought to Reo Hatate step down?
Like Engels, the Japan worldwide was an influential determine within the Hoops’ midfield throughout the 2024-25 season along with his attacking contributions.
Hatate made 37 appearances within the Scottish Premiership final season, scoring 10 targets and creating 14 ‘large probabilities’. This exhibits that he posed an everyday menace to the Bhoys each as a scorer and as a objective creator.
The Japanese star was linked with a transfer to Serie A facet Udinese following his spectacular performances for the membership, however he remained at Parkhead till the top of the summer season switch window.
Sadly, Hatate has solely made one objective and 0 assists in 13 appearances in all competitions this season, and was just lately criticized by the previous Celtic supervisor for his efficiency towards Sturm Graz.
In TNT Sports activities’ match protection, Neil Lennon was unimpressed with the midfielder, saying his play on the ball all through the primary half was “very sloppy”.
Reo Hatate | vs Sturm Graz | VS Hearts |
|---|---|---|
minutes | 90 | 60 |
key move | 3 | 1 |
help | 0 | 0 |
lack of possession | 16x | 5 instances |
Gained a floor duel | 1/5 | 0/1 |
received an aerial battle | 0/1 | 1/3 |
sort out win | 0 | 0 |
Statistics by Sofascore | ||
As you possibly can see from the desk above, the Hatters gave the ball away 16 instances towards the Austrian nationwide workforce, however misplaced 5 of their six matches, after which misplaced 75% towards Hearts on Sunday.
The Japanese worldwide has not solely struggled in duels this season, however in seven begins within the Premiership he has scored one objective, didn’t make an help and made simply 0.7 key passes per recreation.
With Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo on both flank and Lennon criticizing his on-ball play final week, it appears to be like like Hatate will find yourself in midfield until his efficiency improves dramatically.
Based on Sofascore, Engels at the least confirmed indicators of life along with his spectacular efficiency towards Sturm Graz, creating as many “large probabilities” (3) as Hatate did in all competitions all season (3).
It stays to be seen who would be the membership’s subsequent everlasting supervisor, however it is usually unclear whether or not Glasgow has a lot of a future left if the flag bearer’s performances don’t enhance.
Not like Engels, he’s at the moment displaying no indicators of resurgence, so a transfer might be thought of in January because the flag bearer might be the most suitable choice for all involved if he’s unable to regain his finest type, particularly contemplating the curiosity from Udinese in the summertime.
