Marvin Compper is a former German international who joined Celtic in January. However, you could be forgiven for forgetting who he is as since January, the German has made just one appearance and his time already seems up with the Glaswegian giants. Celtic fans would have expected much better from the man who went on to represent Germany once and has the experience of close to 200 games in the Bundesliga.
The centre-back recently revealed that he was asked to find a new club in August after he was struggling with injuries. The 33-year-old was quoted as saying,”I’m fit and I train very well. Even my team-mates do not understand why I do not play. In the summer I had a calf injury. I got an athletic trainer and a physio at my own expense and made myself fit.
“Now it is up to the coach Brendan Rodgers to finally give me the trust. I still have a contract until 2020, but of course, I do not want to sit on the bench. In August, Celtic suggested to me about a change of club. But I do not want to move on so easily. I hope for my chance and want to play.
Commper doesn’t seem to be in contention for a place in the backline even though the Hoops have gone through some injury crisis at the back. The likes of Filip Benkovic, Kristoffer Ajer, Jozo Simunovic and Jack Hendry have all been injured at times but even then the German has been overlooked.
Commper had some discouraging words to say before Celtic’s all-important tie against German outfit RB Leipzig, a team which the centre-back was part of from 2014-2017. The defender was quoted as saying,”We do not defend well, the gaps are not right. If we play against Leipzig like the last time we played in the Europa League, then we’ll lose.”
It’s true that Celtic’s task would be cut out against last season’s Europa League quarterfinalist and they need to be at their absolute best to come out with something from the game but the German’s comment isn’t going to boost the morale of the side.
The defender is known to be a good reader of the game and is robust in his challenges. His aerial abilities are also worth mentioning, and Rodgers would have thought that he was getting a first-team option when he spent £1m on him in January. But it seems like the centre-half hasn’t settled well in the Scottish League and injuries also haven’t helped his cause.
Maybe in January, the club could again look to offload him but the Hoops should be thoughtful before doing that as the likes of Benkovic and Dedryck Boyata would leave at some point next year and someone like Jack Hendry is struggling for form. Therefore Compper could make a case for himself to get into the first team.
