Move to Celtic not without its successes for Compper
IN many supporters’ eyes he may not exactly deserve it, but Marvin Compper’s Scottish Premiership winners’ medal has pride of place in his home. The defender never kicked a ball in anger for Celtic in the league despite Brendan Rodgers splashing out £1million to bring him to Parkhead in 2018. Just over 80 minutes in a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Greenock Morton was all the competitive action the German centre-half saw during his ill-fated spell in Glasgow.
On the field, at least, Compper did not represent anywhere near value for money. A fact the player does not shy away from. He understands fan frustration that his move to Celtic was not a successful one.
“Facts are facts,” Compper says. “I was brought into Celtic with high hopes, but it was a failed experiment.”
The former RB Leipzig star didn’t hit the heights and can hardly even be described as a bit-part player for the club. The 34-year-old was brought to Parkhead to provide a wealth of knowledge from his years in the Bundesliga and Serie A with Fiorentina. To add to the already experienced voices of Scott Brown, Mikael Lustig and Craig Gordon within the home dressing room. An aspect of his Celtic career that – despite not playing – he believes he did deliver on.
“I was very experienced,” Compper said. “I had gone through a lot of pressure situations in my career. So it was very exciting signing for Celtic and, coming to Scotland, it was an adventure. Having finished second the season before with Leipzig, I hoped to give Celtic a part of my experience to help the team grow. Unfortunately it never quite came to that.
“Brendan’s vision was for me to be one of the experienced group and help the team be more stable, especially in Europe. If I would have stayed healthy at the beginning, it might have come to that. But when you come to a club and get injured in a training camp and some niggles here and there, the doubts begin to rise.
“By the time I got a training rhythm and would have been ready to get a chance and prove myself, the ship had already sailed. I still had the feeling that I could give the team some experience and I’m convinced I did, on a different level from being on the pitch and playing. I’m sure if some players were asked if I contributed anything to them or their development, some of them might say I gave them advice. If not being a vital part on the pitch in games, I at least tried to play that kind of role.
“I speak French, so for those lads I kept a tight relationship and we talked more. I talked a lot to Kris Ajer, so even if I wasn’t able to play, I think most of the team still has me in a good place as a person.”
On winning the medal without playing any minutes, Compper added: “It was definitely a bit strange. A lot of managers talk about a team being important up to the last player who played 10 minutes in a game. Even if it’s a tiny part, they’ve played their part. For a player with my CV and career, though, that is not enough. A young player like Karamoko Dembele, for example, was very proud and happy they got a medal. For me it was strange because I wasn’t able to contribute.
“The impact I had on Leipzig and Hoffenheim promotions was much bigger so there’s a huge difference between the two. Ultimately I’m still very proud to have been part of the Celtic squad, part of the history and wearing the colours. Even if it was only in one cup game and training, it still happened.
“I don’t have any regrets. It was a good decision to make at that stage in my career, I went to Celtic to play international football and win titles.”
Injury may well have hampered Compper’s arrival,
I was brought in with high hopes, but it was a failed experiment