Celtic kicked off their post-split fixtures in style on Saturday evening, brushing Falkirk aside with a strong win at Parkhead.
Daizen Maeda naturally stole the headlines with a sharp brace and another relentless display, but not everyone felt the spotlight told the full story of the match.
Speaking after the game in the sunshine at Celtic Park, James McFadden felt one performance in particular went under the radar — that of Arne Engels in midfield.
“I thought Arne Engels, a lot of the work he does, goes a bit unnoticed,” said McFadden. “I thought he looked really strong and powerful in midfield.”
McFadden highlights Engels’ influence
McFadden’s point touches on a familiar theme with Engels. He’s a player who tends to split opinion — heavily scrutinised when things don’t quite click, but far less loudly praised when he puts in the quieter, effective shifts that help the team function.
Despite that, his place in the side has remained fairly consistent regardless of who has been in charge. Whether it was Brendan Rodgers after his return in 2025, the short-lived Wilfried Nancy spell, or now Martin O’Neill, Engels has continued to be trusted in key moments.
That trust has been clear again recently, with the midfielder thrown straight back into the starting XI after injury as Celtic entered this demanding run of post-split fixtures.
Right timing for Celtic
With the title race still finely balanced, McFadden also suggested Celtic may be finding form at exactly the right time.
“I thought Arne Engels, a lot of the work he does, goes a bit unnoticed,” he repeated. “I thought he looked really strong and powerful in midfield.
“Daizen Maeda, with his two goals and assists, you can’t ask for much more. But you feel Celtic are now starting to hit a bit of form, in terms of the way they look like when they are playing. They look dangerous.
“The two goals have come out of nothing because Daizen Maeda goes and presses.”
It was another reminder that while the headlines often go to the scorers, the foundation of performances like this is often built elsewhere — quietly, in midfield battles that don’t always get the attention they deserve.