Gordon Dalziel has made a bold statement regarding Celtic's new signing, Arne Engels, stating that the 21-year-old Belgian is a more complete player than former Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley, who moved to Brighton for a substantial fee this summer. Soccer Football - Champions League - Celtic v Slovan Bratislava - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - September 18, 2024 Celtic's Arne Engels celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff Dalziel praised Engels' impressive start at Celtic, after watching his performance against Slovan Bratislava where he demonstrated his versatility and impact by contributing significantly both offensively and defensively.
Engels, who arrived from Bundesliga team Augsburg for a club-record PS11 million, has quickly justified his hefty price tag, according to Dalziel. The young midfielder's ability to dominate games was evident in his recent Champions League match, where he not only scored and assisted but also maintained a 92% pass accuracy, delivered multiple crosses, engaged in numerous defensive actions, and created chances for his teammates.
On Clyde 1 Super Scoreboard, the pundit said: "I'm telling you now, I'm telling you facts, Engels, of what I've seen of him, has got every single thing in his locker.
"This guy's 21 years of age, he's got off to a terrific start, the confidence he's got, I'm telling you, he's a better player than Matt O'Riley. All day long. Twice on a Sunday.
"I'm not being disrespectful to Matt O'Riley, I think he's a better player and I'd play him before Matt O'Riley."
It's early days for Engels, but the signs are promising. But making such statements in comparison to Matt O'Riley are probably a little premature.
He was absolutely everywhere on Wednesday night and put in a great display, and he was definitely in with a shout for the man of the match. His goal and assist, the first Celtic player to do so in the same Champions League game since Henrik Larsson, topped off the display.
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