Moritz Jenz – His suitability for Angeball and his unlikely interest

As Celtic close in on both Aaron Mooy and Moritz Jenz respectively, a report in the Daily Record has given an insight into not only what the big defender Jenz is like, but a deeper delve into his personality and the processes he goes through which help keep him on course and grounded in a game that is often considered make believe at times.

Jenz was a target for the Hoops recruitment team last year, however French side Lorient nipped in and stole the former Fulham man from Swiss outfit FC Lausanne-Sport fot just £1 million at the time. After having a mixed season in Ligue 1, the towering centre-back is keen to move on and try his luck somewhere else and Ange Postecoglou is willing to give him a try. With a loan deal with an option to buy mooted, Jenz may just be that ball playing central defender we have been crying out for.

On his attributes that make him suitable to the way in which Ange likes his teams to play, he said: “I don’t see myself as a classic central defender who tries to ruin the game. I see myself more as the first line of attack and a player who builds up play. 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 Jerome Boateng and Leonardo Bonucci. Of course, I would love a career as good as either of them, but football isn’t about aspirations, it’s about creating and fulfilling a dream. In football, it’s like in real life. If you’re convinced of something, then try to be the best at it and do your thing, even if others want to stop you from doing it.”

Away from the football field he has a rather unusual and quirky interest, as he is a staunch advocate for marine conservation. He revealed: “It might sound a bit odd, but I’m not interested in material things. When I got my first salary, I didn’t buy an expensive watch or anything like that. The money stays in my account for the difficult times ahead. I also love visiting museums. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a historical museum or an art museum, somehow it calms me down and inspires me at the same time.

“I’m passionate about ocean conservation. Everyone has the same responsibility for a clean world. On holiday once, I saw what happens when animals come into contact with plastic. It is therefore my duty to draw attention to the dangers of microplastics, for example via Instagram. I know I can’t make the world a better place on my own, but when five people are more aware of themselves and the environment, then I’ve already achieved a lot.”

Having already experienced the rough and tumble of the British game at Craven Cottage, Jenz is well versed in the physicality of how the football in country goes sometimes. He admits that it took a bit of getting used to at first but that he eventually acclimatised to his surroundings after a while.

He added: “My teammates showed me that they didn’t like it that a German took their place away from them. If there’s one thing I learned in England, it was not to put up with anything and to show toughness in the game. Overall, my time at Fulham was brilliant. I made enormous progress both personally and athletically. For me, Fulham is a great club and I hope to be able to play for this club again in the Premier League at some point.”

The Lorient man also explained that he enjoys the peace and tranquillity of meditation during his downtime, which aids his concentration levels out on the park. He continued: “Being a professional footballer means not only being able to use the ball well, but also being mentally ready for it. I always thought things like meditation or mental training were very silly, but now I realise how good they are for me. I’m convinced that as a footballer you can only perform at your best if you also allow your body to rest.”

Paul Gillespie