Brendan Rodgers had nothing but praise for his Celtic squad despite their Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.
The Northern Irishman described his players as ‘heroic’ after they conceded a dramatic 94th-minute equalizer, ultimately bowing out of the competition.
Daizen Maeda earned admiration from the Celtic faithful for his role in Nicolas Kuhn’s goal, which briefly sparked hopes of an upset. Meanwhile, Micah Richards highlighted Kuhn’s overall performance, believing the game shifted after the winger was substituted in the second half.
However, ahead of Celtic’s upcoming clash with Hibernian on Saturday, Rodgers took time to specifically commend Jeffrey Schlupp and Arne Engels for their displays.
Rodgers Hails Schlupp’s Performance Against Bayern
Schlupp, a deadline-day loan signing from Crystal Palace, has quickly adapted to life at Parkhead. His impressive performance against Bayern Munich had Palace fans questioning why their club hadn’t utilized him as a left-wing-back.
The Ghanaian international found himself up against former Palace teammate Michael Olise, with the Frenchman later admitting he enjoyed the on-field battle.
Rodgers was full of admiration for Schlupp, describing him as “absolutely superb” and emphasizing why he was brought to the club.
“Yeah, and his professionalism as well. He fits what we do here, which is why we signed him,” Rodgers said.
“I spoke to Jeff in the summer with the idea of bringing him in, but at the time, it wasn’t possible. There was a chance Kieran Tierney might return, so we had to wait. But when that didn’t happen, Jeff was my first choice.
“He’s got fantastic attributes—his physicality, his intelligence on the pitch. I thought he was brilliant the other night, especially given the intensity of the game.
“He’s only been here a few weeks, but he’s settling in well. It takes time to adjust to a team that dominates possession, understanding the movement patterns. But defensively, he was also really strong against Olise.
“I’m delighted for Jeff. He’s a great guy, and he’s slotted into the team seamlessly.”
Rodgers Highlights Engels’ Progress
Rodgers also singled out £11m midfielder Arne Engels for praise, following his impressive display at the Allianz Arena.
When asked if Engels’ performance in Munich marked a turning point in his development, Rodgers responded:
“Yeah, I think he’s been developing and growing throughout the season. He’s really adapted to our style of play, understanding movement patterns and the physical demands of the game.
“If you look at his data over this competition, his physicality has really stood out—not just for him but for the team as a whole.
“He was excellent in Munich, but to be fair, he’s been improving every week since he arrived. It’s just unfortunate that he couldn’t mark his return to Germany with a better result. But overall, he’s been outstanding.”
