Arne Engels reckons the VAR should have switched-off from Celtic’s late Leith drama. But the Belgian is adamant the angry champions are determined to turn full title force straight back on against Aberdeen.
Brendan Rodgers fumed at full-time in Edinburgh after seeing a potential equaliser from Daizen Maeda ruled out by a screen call. Having hauled Celtic back into the game at 2-1, the Japanese ace then looked to have levelled seven minutes from time when thrashing home after Hibs failed to deal with an Alistair Johnston cross.
Stand-side assistant David Roome was nearby and saw nothing amiss, but VAR Alan Muir got involved and informed referee Steven MacLean the ball had crept over the byeline and out of play before the Canadian centred. That incensed Celtic with the manager looking to be shown conclusive proof. It was Engels who fed Johnston and the right-back’s version of events were clear to his colleagues as the midfielder revealed: “He [Johnston] said it [the ball] was in.
“We also saw the images back and you cannot really see if it’s out or not. I think, for me, you need to rely on the referees and not on the VAR then because he cannot see it. We all thought it was in. The bench also thought it was in. So, yeah, that’s disappointing in the end. You always think if you score a goal that it’s not nice to get the VAR standing in the way or something. But it is what it is.”
As well as being aggrieved at the disallowed goal, Engels admitted the team were also “angry” with themselves after a dismal opening-half in Edinburgh and are determined to fire back against Aberdeen at Parkhead tomorrow night.
The Belgian knows the Hibs loss shows his team have to keep a foot firmly to the floor in the flag fight. Engels said: “Yes, 100 per cent, but we know that. We need to step up now. We know that there are some games that you can lose, but there are so many games still to go.
“We are focused on the next one, that’s Tuesday. We are fully focused now on that and we go again then. We know that we need to be there every game, not only once. But we showed it already the whole season that we are ready for it. It’s a disappointing afternoon, but I think we are strong enough to keep on going, keep on winning. That’s what we are used to doing. We are not afraid from this loss.”
The visit of Aberdeen offers an ideal chance to spark back to winning ways and Engels stated: “We are always focused on the next game. If it’s a win or a lose, we switch on really quickly to the next one. That’s what we are going to do now also. I think everybody is really focused now on that after this one. We will show it again. There is nothing to stress about or something. We just need to keep on going, keep on winning and that’s what we always do.”