Roberts is keen to copy Bayern idol Robben’s awesome arc on big stage
THE burst forward on the right flank, the cut inside on to the left foot and the shot lands in the Champions League net.
Patrick Roberts revelled in scoring his deflected goal in front of the travelling fans and his close family at the Constant Vanden Stock stadium as Celtic soared to one of their great victories in the competition.
However, the winger is relentless in his search for personal improvement and Roberts would love to ‘Arc It Like Arjen’ regularly on the big stage.
It’s Bayern Munich up next for Celtic — back-to-back fixtures which will grant Roberts a platform with one of his favourite wide men, Netherlands international Arjen Robben (right).
The Dutchman’s trademark goals stem from an angled run from the right wing then he unleashes a curling left peg drive into the corner.
Kara Mbodji’s deflection was much appreciated on Wednesday, albeit not precisely how Roberts has been drawing it up in training and in his dreams.
The 20-year-old does have Robben’s attributes to aim for and hopes to be able to produce such magic for Celtic in Europe as the Scottish champions progress. ‘Robben has got that technique of coming in and putting it in the top corner which I try to work on,’ revealed Roberts.
‘Obviously not to the level he can plant them in there.
‘But, hopefully, one day I can get there and it can be as routine as that. I’m sure any winger would tell you that it’s an art form for him to do that throughout the years.
‘He’s been playing for Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and doing it. He’s practised that throughout the years.
‘He’s getting a little older now but you just see that being so natural to him.
‘Hopefully as years go on I can learn that skill and I hope it can become natural for me. But if I keep scoring goals, I’ll be happy.’
Robben was only a second-half substitute on Wednesday night as Bayern slumped to the 3-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain which signalled the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign.
Club legend Willy Sagnol has been promoted from within to take charge until the end of the season — and Celtic will take all the upheaval going among their group opponents as a positive.
Anderlecht being under interim management helped the successful raid on Brussels and Roberts believes Celtic, fully
recovered from a PSG pounding, carry restored confidence into Munich on October 18.
‘We played like we play on a weekend against Anderlecht,’ he said.
‘The first half was a wee bit shaky with a few passes going astray.
‘But once we got into our game and played the way we normally do, we showed why we’re a top team and why we should be competing in this tournament.
‘These nights are why I came back, these are the games I want to play in. The manager has the focus drilled into us to go out there, show no fear and play how we always play at weekends. We did that. ‘I feel we can also do that against Bayern Munich now, give it 100 per cent and with the fans behind us, we can try to get a result.
‘Against Anderlecht we had to show our real quality in Europe and we showed that by winning 3-0 away from home. That is something special and we’ve got to take that into the next games.
‘It will be some atmosphere at the Allianz Arena, we will relish it like we always do and will go into that game in a positive frame of mind.’