Arne Engels believes Celtic showed the fight and spirit needed to trouble Bayern Munich next week, despite falling to a 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who put in an impressive shift in the middle of the park, remained upbeat after the match, pointing to the team’s character and resilience as positives to build on.
Reflecting on the performance, Engels was pleased with the attitude and fight his side showed, particularly in the second half.
“I think it went okay,” he told CeltsAreHere.” I did my things. I was really compact with Callum, so I think we did a lot of good things. We created a lot, so it’s up to us to do the same thing next week.”
Celtic found themselves 2-0 down after goals from Michael Olise and Harry Kane, but Engels was proud of how the team rallied late on, with Daizen Maeda’s late header giving them hope ahead of the return leg in Germany.
Celtic fans thought their fightback could’ve started earlier in the second half through a penalty. VAR recommended a pitchside review after Dayot Upamecano appeared to stand on Engels’ foot in the penalty box.
However, Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano stunned the home crowd by sticking with his original decision and waving away Celtic’s penalty claims.
Engels admitted he felt contact at the time but hadn’t seen the replay.
“I didn’t see it back yet, but I thought he hit me. I was inside asking the guys if it was a penalty or not, and they said that he slightly touched me with his toe, so maybe it wasn’t then. I think the VAR looked at it and then decided to not give a penalty. But it took a long time, so I think it was a 50-50 one.”
Despite the disappointment of the penalty decision, Celtic fought back in the final stages, with Maeda pulling a goal back to give the team a glimmer of hope.
Engels was proud of the team’s response after going two goals behind.
“I think it shows the mentality of our team, that we never give up. We always want to come back, and what we did, together with the Celtic crowd, was amazing. To have them here really helped us push forward.”
“Then you see that we also create a lot of chances and that we can make it really difficult for them, so it’s up to us to keep that courage of the last 20 or 30 minutes and go there with nothing to lose.”
The focus now shifts to the second leg at the Allianz Arena. Celtic know they need to score early to put Bayern under pressure.
Engels insists the squad will go to Germany full of belief.
“I think we just need to show the same level as today, and then everything can happen.
“It’s only one game, so if we score there pretty quickly, then it all can happen.
“I don’t want to put a lot of pressure on us, but I think we showed today that we can play against them and that we can create a lot of chances and can hurt them, so there were a lot of positive things to keep with us, and it’s all or nothing next week, so it’s going to be a good game.”
The Celtic support will be there in strong numbers for the trip to Munich, and Engels hopes they can replicate the atmosphere that lifted the team at Parkhead.
“We will do everything to get a result there and that we also need them there, so it will be a lovely atmosphere and I hope we really can hear them like today.
“It was amazing today so it really will help us also over there, and I think we all want the same thing, so we all are together there.”
Call it unlucky, call it karma. The defender got his boot in, made a firm connection with ball, it was away, connected with Arnie’s toes and bones with his studded sole.
Ref did have a long look, he (and the linesman and Var viewer) did tell him their thoughts??
Maybe under different circumstances the ref my have gave it ( if the defender had) Arnies top in a grip, had pushed him?
Right not to give it, as it wasn’t one. I jumped shouting ‘ Penalty, defenders getting a early bath’ saw replay, wasn’t to be.
Ref thought the same, maybe Var thought about it more.