Given that they play in a vaguely similar area of the park, are both vying for a place in the same national side but play their club football on different sides of the Glasgow divide, it is only natural (if more than a little contrived) that something of a rivalry has been confected between Celtic’s Arne Engels and his compatriot at Rangers, Nicolas Raskin.
Comparisons between the pair were heightened when Raskin outshone Engels in the most recent Old Firm derby, and earned a place in the Red Devils’ squad at the expense of Celtic’s record signing before impressing on his international debut under their new manager Rudi Garcia.If there is one thing that Engels has learned in his debut season in Scotland though, it is that blocking out conjecture about his performances is a handy survival tool.
Whether it is the debate around whether he has justified his hefty price tag or arguments around who has the better Belgian patrolling their midfield, Engels has kept his focus on improving as an individual and bringing his best to training and matches with Celtic.
(Image: Andrew Milligan – PA) If he does that, the 21-year-old is happy to let the caps fall where they may, particularly when the honours are falling the way of both him and Celtic.
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