Marvin Compper

Something to be proud of years from now

 

HE took the Bundesliga by storm as part of a team of unknowns.

But before he knew it, Marvin Compper didn’t even recognise some of his own team-mates.

It was in 2008 and Hoffenheim’s first season in the German top flight.

Compper was part of a group of unlikely heroes who bulldozed the big boys and threatened to win the top flight title.

In the end it wasn’t to be with the defender witnessing how the success they had was actually tearing them apart.

Since then the new Celtic signing vowed to make sure he never allowed that to happen again.

And Compper said: “I was 22 at Hoffenheim and we were a team which was functioning exceptionally.

“As long as we did that and stayed together as a team with the spirit, we were very successful.

“Once we stopped thinking as a team and became more individual to different possibilities personally, we started to go down.

“Football is always like that and there are other examples of it.

“That was the problem after our good start. You see some of the careers that players had after Hoffenheim, it shows the quality was there, but the individual quality needs brought together.

“Success can change people. It’s about the mental strength you have when you are winning to keep going and keep being successful and pushing to be better.

“You always need to bring that.

“The manager has been here for one and a half years and he has done fantastic, pushing the team all of the time.

“We have to keep on pushing and that is the biggest strength of the big teams, to do it every week.

“That is the task and what you have to do as a big team.

“I’m only one guy and part of a team always. You do your best and try to grow, but it has to be a team effort at the end of the day.

“I was too young to see it at Hoffenheim at the time, but you have to learn.

“That’s what defeats and difficult moments are for. If you make any mistakes, no problem, but you have to learn and make sure that you don’t do them again.”

Compper had a spell in Italy earlier in his career but he didn’t have the success with Fiorentina that he hoped for.

He added: “I learned and saw that some players were a little bit lazy in training and not giving 100 per cent. But then in a game they brought it, so there are different possibilities. Players find their way.

“But at the end of the day you are judged by your performances in games. You have to be at 100 per cent no matter what.

“Some do it that way, some do it this way. But at Fiorentina it was educational, I learned a lot about football in general.

“It was my first time abroad and it was a good team with fantastic players, so I picked up a lot there.”

There was also a big learning experience for Compper at RB Leipzig, a club disliked by many Germans due to the money pumped in by energy-drink giants Red Bull.

But he added: “It’s important you concentrate on what you are doing. I know, even if people think success was bought, we fought for it.

“We worked for it every day and had to put in the work. You have to win the games all the time. Teams get bought together, but are still not successful on a regular basis.

“It’s about the work you put in. Even if you are bought for lots of money you still have to play the game. I think we earned where we finished last season.

“It’s not annoying.

“I’ve said it on German television a lot of times — you don’t want to please fans of other clubs. You have your own fans. You have your own organisation, your own team.

“You need to look each other in the eyes and give 100 per cent.

“Criticism makes you stronger. That’s the way you have to think.”

Celts are gearing up for a return to action in Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash with Brechin, after their break in Dubai. Compper, 32, says his best years are still ahead of him.

He added: “When you’ve still got the legs, when you’re still in shape and still have the experience it’s a good mix. I hope I can keep up my fitness as long as possible.

“That mix and balance can give me my best two or three years.

“I think I’m in good shape, but I can be in better shape because I had a longer break than the others. It’s not about proving myself abroad — I’ve done that already in my career and I don’t have to show others. I came here to improve and to contribute to the new team whatever my role is. That is all that drives me.”

 

Love this big * awready.

 

Out for 3-4 weeks with a calf injury, you couldn’t make it up.

 

Unbelievable. This January has been a * so far.

 

This is typical Celtic that when it looks like we've bought a decent centre half he gets injured almost immediately.

Also cracking patter to buy a centre half who can't play in the Europa League.

 

* sake Marv.

Was hoping to see him in action against Brechin.

 

Another masterstroke signing. Zenit are on course to put 5 past us

 

S'appenin biton

 

He was never playing against Zenit..

 

he was never playing against Zenit mate anyway he is cup-tied

 

Brilliant, Brendan dae us a * favour eh, gonnae say something positive!

 

So we let Erik go knowing Compper is out for 3-4 weeks goes to show what Brendan thinks of Erik!

 

Same could be said for you tbh

 

Still true but. Pointless signing.