TO say that the last German centre half who Celtic brought in failed to live up to expectations is something of an understatement.
Marvin Compper, a £1m acquisition from RB Leipzig back in the January of 2018, is widely regarded as one of the most disappointing signings in the Parkhead club’s history.
There were high hopes among supporters that Compper would be the sort of cultured and commanding defender that then manager Brendan Rodgers desperately needed when he arrived.
The 33-year-old had vast experience at a high level; he had played for Borussia Monchengladbach, 1899 Hoffenheim and Leipzig in his homeland as well as Fiorentina in Italy.
But the German internationalist was an unmitigated disaster. He only featured in one first team match, a Scottish Cup win over second tier Morton, and was given a free transfer to Duisburg after a year and a half here.
Early indications, though, are that Moritz Jenz will fare far better than his infamous countryman.
Jenz, who moved to Glasgow from French outfit Lorient on a season-long loan last week, came on for Stephen Welsh in the second-half of the pre-season friendly against Norwich City in the East End on Saturday.
The 23-year-old may only have been involved half an hour, but he looked composed in possession during the time that he was on the park and helped the Scottish champions to keep a clean sheet in a comfortable and morale-boosting 2-0 victory.
Celtic’s recruitment since Ange Postecoglou was appointed manager last year has been exceptional; Joe Hart, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Josip Juranovic, Reo Hatate, Liel Abada, Jota, Matt O’Riley, Daizen Maeda, Giorgios Giakoumakis and Kyogo Furuhashi have all made a major impact.
Can Jenz do likewise?
It would certainly be beneficial for Postecoglou, whose team will launch their defence of the cinch Premiership on Sunday afternoon with a game against Aberdeen at Parkhead after the league flag has been unfurled, if he does.
Swedish internationalist Starfelt has not trained with his fellow players this summer due to a hamstring strain. His Greek-Australian coach is optimistic he will rejoin the main group at Lennoxtown again in the coming days. However, he is unlikely to return and face Aberdeen after such a long lay-off.
Bringing in Jenz, though, is no knee-jerk reaction to Starfelt’s absence. The Scottish champions have monitored him for some years now. He first caught their attention when he was in the youth ranks at Fulham and they continued to track his progress when he moved to Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.
By all accounts, he had the chance to join Celtic last year and opted to move to Ligue 1 outfit Lorient instead. So his arrival is far from a stop gap measure.
The 6ft 3in player has a reputation for being strong in the air as well as a reliable defender. He was given the nickname “Duel Monster” by Lausanne fans due to his combativeness and success in one-on-one situations during the 2020/21 campaign.
However, it is with the ball at his feet that the right-footed left-sided centre back is at his best – a trait which will have appealed to his new manager greatly.
Postecoglou wants his side to build play patiently from the back rather than go direct both at home and abroad and Jenz will certainly be able to do that in the coming months.
The former Tennis Borussia Berlin kid idolised his revered countryman Jerome Boateng and Italian great Leonardo Bonucci – two legends of the modern game who are renowned for their ball-playing ability – when he was growing up. It shows in his play.
“I don't see myself as a classic central defender who tries to ruin the game,” he once said. “I see myself more as a first offensive or build-up player. I love having the game in front of me, dictating what pace we go at. I also try to learn a lot from my role models Boateng and Bonucci.”
Being at Lorient, who had just been promoted from Ligue 2, were battling to survive in the French top flight and eventually finished in 16th place just four points above the relegation zone, clearly did not suit his strengths.
He helped Christophe Pelissier’s men to earn a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain, who fielded, among others, Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sergio Ramos, at the Stade du Moustoir in December.
But the more experienced Julien Laporte and Jeremy Morel were often preferred to him at the back as Les Merlus battled to stay up.
Turning out for Celtic, who dominate matches domestically and are constantly looking to attack, should prove to be far more to his liking.
Jenz has confessed in the past that his professionalism as an aspiring youngster often left much to be desired. “There were times when I thought: ‘Now for a coke, a kebab and a round on Playstation’,” he once said.
Now he devotes himself completely to his craft. He works tirelessly on both the mental and physical sides of his game. He is a regular in the gym and an advocate of meditation. He will certainly be hungry for success after his frustrating stint in Brittany.
Welsh got the nod to start in the Norwich friendly. But will Jenz come into Postecoglou’s thinking against Aberdeen this weekend and thereafter? He could be the perfect foil for Carter-Vickers in the heart of his rearguard given their respective attributes.
His presence will certainly give Ange Postecoglou, whose team have Premiership, Premier Sports Cup and Champions League group stage games to play before the Qatar 2022 finals get underway in November, decent back-up and more intense competition.
He had to field teenager Dane Murray alongside Welsh in the second leg of the Champions League qualifier against Midtjylland of Denmark last July after Nir Bitton got sent off in the first match and his men suffered a costly 2-1 defeat after extra-time.
The capture of Moritz Jenz, who they have an option to buy at the end of his loan if they are prepared to meet Lorient’s asking price, is another sign of the progress Celtic are making.
