Chris Sutton mentioned three Celtic players in his post-match analysis of the 2–1 win over Sturm Graz — but only one earned his full praise.
The Hoops produced a much-improved display at Celtic Park, coming from behind to claim their first Europa League victory of the campaign. The result not only boosted morale but also added €450,000 to the club’s UEFA earnings, bringing their total prize money to €14.4 million so far.
Liam Scales and Benjamin Nygren made headlines with their goals, while Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho were forced off with injuries. Yet it was Arne Engels who caught Sutton’s attention the most.
Engels, who has faced some criticism from supporters for his open-play performances, was once again deadly from set-pieces. His pinpoint corner found Nygren’s head to secure Celtic’s comeback win — prompting Brendan Rodgers to label his crossing “world class.” Sutton echoed that sentiment, calling Engels’ delivery “top class” and suggesting Celtic had taken “a tiny step in the right direction.”
On social media, Sutton wrote:
“Good performance tonight. Still lack a cutting edge. Losing Johnston and Iheanacho early on another blow, but credit where credit is due — it should have been far more comfortable. A tiny step in the right direction. Engels’ delivery top class tonight. Sunday will be a real test 🍀.”
Statistically, Engels backed up the praise — he created a match-high five chances and contributed defensively with four key interventions.
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