'Horizontal' Arne Engels had players bouncing off him as Celtic teammate reckons they've won a watch

Celtic Park was whipped into a Champions League frenzy as the Hoops bashed Slovan Bratislava. But star man Arne Engels was so chilled out he looked like he was out for a Sunday stroll.

Liam Scales can understand why supporters are getting all worked up about the Belgian playmaker – even if the 21-year-old is just taking it all in his stride. Engels arrived in Glasgow on deadline day with a record £11m transfer fee and huge expectations. Even at this early stage, Scales reckons the midfielder looks worth every penny. Engels never lost his composure for a second, whether it was pulling the strings in the middle, spraying passes or barging in to tackles. And there was barely a bead of sweat when he stepped up to slot the penalty kick for the third goal that put Celtic clear.

Republic of Ireland star Scales said: “What’s that saying? If he was any more laid back, he'd be horizontal. Honestly, Arne's brilliant. It takes a lot of guts to come in and play the way he's playing, straight into these massive fixtures. Playing against Rangers, coming into the Champions League game and doing so well. He's got so much quality. I think everyone can see that. He's brilliant.

“I think he deserves that record fee. He's a top, top quality player. He's just been brilliant. He's really getting to know the lads as well. He's just been top class all round. I'm looking forward to playing with him.”

Scales had a stormer in the 5-1 win as well and capped his fine display with a bullet header for the opener – thanks to a lethal delivery from Engels. He said: “I watched it back and the player a yard in front of me is at full stretch, in the air, and it's gone over his head and come down just in time to be right on my head. I've not even really had to jump.

“You can't really defend against crosses like that if it's got so much whip and dip on it. Obviously, we're at an advantage that we know what area he's going to play it into and I'm going to make my run into there. It was perfect. I didn't have much to do other than just get good contact on it.”

Engels is clearly a baller but he’s not just a pretty player. The former Augsburg man is built like a Clydesdale and isn’t shy at getting stuck in. At one point the other night, Bratislava’s bully boys were simply bouncing off him.

Scales said: “He's well capable of that other side of the game as well. Obviously, he's technically brilliant. You can see that, but I think that sort of goes under the radar of how good he is. He's just a bit of a machine. There are players bouncing off him and he's really getting into tackles. It's great to see that. You need your midfielders to do that.”

Engels was just one of the huge positives on a night full of them. Scales admitted it was a special evening in Glasgow’s east end and his goal was a moment to savour. The centre back became the first Irishman to score in the Champions League since Darren Gibson notched for Man Utd in the semi-finals against Schalke in 2011 – only for Adam Idah to nab his stat about an hour later.

He said: “It was just pure joy. You could probably see that on my face. I wanted to do a knee slide but someone pushed me over! It was just pure joy. I was delighted and it was such an amazing feeling. Obviously getting the result is the main thing but to get a goal in the Champions League is something I'll have now forever.

“I'm delighted for Adam too – it's great. We went away with Ireland last week and it was frustrating. So to come in here and do that, it was amazing. For both of us to score, I'm as happy for him as I am for myself. He was really good when he came on.”

As was Scales. The defender won 11 duels on the night – the most by any Celt in the Champions League since Mikael Lustig in the win against Anderlecht severn years ago and the entire Hoops backline was rock solid. Scales said: “We've been quite good defensively this year. Obviously, in the league, we haven't conceded. We were unlucky with the goal we conceded on Wednesday.

“It was a brilliant finish. That's what you have to expect at this level, I suppose. There are good players around you, and you take chances that maybe you might get away with domestically. We're in a good place defensively and I think it's just down to us to be focused and just be strong, really.”

Bratislava scored to make it 3-1 – which might have cause a wobble a year ago. Scales said: “Yes, definitely. I think it was probably against the run of play as well. We started the second half so well and we came flying out of the blocks. I felt that they sort of, not collapsed at the start of the second half, but they didn't come out as strong.

“The goal was a little bit against the run of play, but I don't think it really changed how we played at all. We kicked on from it anyway. I think you could feel it in the stadium as well. There wasn't much moaning and groaning. I think the fans were ready to get back behind us once we got the ball back in play.”

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