It’s the finish of an period for Celtic and Brendan Rodgers after a string of disappointing outcomes throughout all competitions led to the supervisor tendering his resignation this week.
The Hoops did beat Sturm Graz within the Europa League final week, to their credit score, however they’ve additionally misplaced three of their final 5 matches, together with their final two within the Scottish Premiership.
Dane Murray scored an personal objective and conceded a penalty in a uncommon begin in opposition to league-leaders Hearts on Sunday, taking their opponents eight factors clear on the prime of the desk.
The Hoops are able they don’t typically discover themselves in, chasing the crew on the prime of the desk, and Rodgers has determined that he’s not the person to take the membership ahead.
Celtic have already confirmed that extremely skilled supervisor Martin O’Neill will lead the crew within the interim interval till a everlasting head coach may be unveiled.
The previous Hoops boss can have some massive calls to make for the crew choice in opposition to Falkirk, with Arne Engels one of many gamers whose future on the membership is in some doubt due to his performances.
Why Arne Engels’ future at Celtic could also be unsure
The Scottish giants broke their switch file to signal the Belgium worldwide from Augsburg for a payment of £11m in the summertime of 2024 to bolster their choices in the course of the park.
For a 21-year-old taking part in in Scotland for the primary time, with the strain of his switch payment, a return of ten targets and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, was a powerful haul.
Sadly, Engels has did not kick on within the present Scottish Premiership marketing campaign, as he has solely been named within the beginning line-up in 4 of his eight appearances.
|
25/26 Premiership |
Arne Engels |
Percentile rank vs CMs |
|---|---|---|
|
xG |
0.42 |
High 33% |
|
Objectives |
0 |
Backside 3% |
|
xA |
0.48 |
High 49% |
|
Assists |
0 |
Backside 3% |
|
Duels received |
16 |
Backside 31% |
|
Duel success price |
29% |
Backside 4% |
|
Interceptions |
2 |
Backside 18% |
As you may see within the desk above, the Belgian central midfielder has failed to supply a lot high quality in possession, while he has struggled badly off the ball in midfield.
His dismal kind within the Premiership, and lack of begins, might put his future up within the air forward of the January switch window, as a result of he’s an £11m asset who won’t enhance in worth if his performances are poor.
Nonetheless, there have been constructive indicators in opposition to Sturm Graz final week. He assisted the successful objective, as proven within the clip above, and ended the sport with 5 key passes and three ‘massive possibilities’ created, per Sofascore.
That efficiency was a step in the appropriate course for Engels and reveals that he can nonetheless ship high quality in the course of the park for the Hoops, which is why O’Neill shouldn’t drop him from the XI.
Nonetheless, one participant who needs to be immediately ditched by the interim supervisor, although, is Reo Hatate, whose efficiency ranges have dropped considerably this season.
Why Reo Hatate needs to be dropped
Like Engels, the Japan worldwide was an influential determine in the course of the park for the Hoops within the 2024/25 marketing campaign along with his attacking contributions.
Hatate scored ten targets and created 14 ‘massive possibilities’ in 37 appearances within the Scottish Premiership final season, which reveals that he supplied a daily risk as each a scorer and a creator of targets for the Bhoys.
The Japanese star was even linked with a transfer to Serie A facet Udinese off the again of his spectacular performances for the membership, however he remained at Parkhead till the shut of the summer season switch window.
Sadly, Hatate has one objective and no assists in 13 appearances in all competitions to this point this season, and was recenty criticised by a former Celtic supervisor within the win over Sturm Graz.
Talking on TNT Sports activities’ protection of the sport, Neil Lennon was unimpressed by the midfielder, saying that his play on the ball was “so sloppy” all through the primary half.
|
Reo Hatate |
Vs Sturm Graz |
Vs Hearts |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
60 |
|
Key passes |
3 |
1 |
|
Assists |
0 |
0 |
|
Possession misplaced |
16x |
5x |
|
Floor duels received |
1/5 |
0/1 |
|
Aerial duels received |
0/1 |
1/3 |
|
Tackles received |
0 |
0 |
As you may see within the desk above, Hatate gave the ball away 16 instances in opposition to the Austrian outfit, while additionally shedding 5 of his six duels, earlier than occurring to lose 75% of his duels in opposition to Hearts on Sunday.
The Japan worldwide has, now, scored one objective and failed to supply any assists, with simply 0.7 key passes per recreation, throughout seven begins within the Premiership this season, on prime of his struggles in duels.
With Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo each ready within the wings, and Lennon criticising his play on the ball final week, it appears to be like like Hatate is completed in midfield until his performances drastically enhance.
Engels, at the least, confirmed indicators of life along with his spectacular show in opposition to Sturm Graz, creating as many ‘massive possibilities’ (three) as Hatate has managed all season in all competitions (three), per Sofascore.
While it stays to be seen who the subsequent everlasting supervisor of the membership will probably be, it additionally stays to be seen whether or not or not Hatate has a lot of a future left in Glasgow, if his performances don’t enhance.
Not like Engels, he isn’t at the moment displaying indicators of revival and that would imply {that a} switch is taken into account in January, significantly given the curiosity from Udinese in the summertime, as it might be the most suitable choice for all events concerned if Hatate can’t recapture his greatest kind.
