Ange Postecoglou explains why Moritz Jenz left Celtic early

Ange Postecoglou today explained the rationale for allowing Moritz Jenz to cut short his season-long loan at Celtic from his parent club FC Lorient that allowed the German defender to make the move to the his homeland to attempt to keep Schalke in the Bundesliga.

FC Schalke 04, Moritz Jenz, 26.01.2023

It’s a situation that appears to have worked out well for all parties and from today’s comments from the Celtic manager it appears that the player would not have had much chance of being signed on a permanent deal this summer, following the arrival of left-sided Japanese defender Yuki Kobayashi.

Kobayashi, joins Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and presumably Stephen Welsh as the four central defenders in the Celtic squad so there was effectively no place for Jenz who therefore would have had little prospect of much football action for the rest of this season had he stayed put.

So essentially what happened is that after a conversation with the player about his future, the Australian decided that it would be best all round if Jenz looked at his opportunities elsewhere. And having played in all six Group Stage matches for Celtic in this season’s Champions league we was hardly likely to be short of offers, as indeed was the case.

“With Moritz it came from a discussion I had with the player,” Ange said today at his Media Conference. “We brought him in because we needed cover in the centre-back area and that proved to be correct as both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt were out a different times.

Federico Valverde of Real Madrid is challenged by Moritz Jenz of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Real Madrid and Celtic FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 02, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“Having someone with his experience come in helped us. With someone on loan it is all about asking whether they are going to play and are we going to sign them at the end of the season.

“I was keen to bring in Yuki Kobayashi and that came to fruition. Then it became a discussion about what was best for Moritz and we agreed it was best for him to see if there were any opportunities elsewhere.

Leipzig’s German forward Timo Werner (L) and Celtic’s German defender Moritz Jenz vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match RB Leipzig v Celtic FC in Leipzig, eastern Germany on October 5, 2022. (Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

“It is great he has found one and he developed really well for us. I think he enjoyed his time here and contributed well in the first six months but, for both parties, it was a good time to look for different opportunities.”

Catch up with Ange Postecoglou’s Media Conference below…

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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