Despite bad hostilities
National player defends whereabouts in Moscow
03/09/2022, 10:18 am
Markus Gisdol resigns as coach at Lokomotiv Moscow because of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and returns to Germany. His assistant Marvin Compper, on the other hand, stays, is attacked and now explains why he made that decision.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, former Bundesliga professional Marvin Compper has defended his position at first division soccer club Lokomotiv Moscow. “We came here in October 2021 to change something: We brought a philosophy to the entire club, from top to bottom. I feel a responsibility for it: towards the people who trusted us,” said the 36 -year-old of “Sport Bild”.
Because ex-Bundesliga coach Markus Gisdol gave up his post because of the war in Ukraine and traveled back to Germany, assistant coach Compper took over the job. “Many foreigners work in the club, not just Russians. The people we met here are people with a good heart and have nothing to do with politics,” said Compper, who played for Mönchengladbach and Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, among other things and Leipzig had played.
But he observes the situation in Russia very carefully. “The situation that we find: There is a regular, normal everyday life here. I like my job and feel safe: If that were to change, we would reassess the situation. I look from day to day.” He made one appearance for the German national team, on November 19, 2008 in Berlin in a 2-1 defeat in a friendly against England. With 77 minutes of play before he was substituted, he was the first German international for TSG Hoffenheim.
The fact that he didn’t immediately stop at Lok like Gisdol brought criticism to him and his family. “My wife and I get a lot on social media. My wife is now being insulted on her work account on Instagram, there are nasty comments. That’s a shame and it hurts,” said Compper: “I see a lot of people in the club or environment, how they are depressed, thoughtful and introverted due to the situation. We as a team try to pull together, concentrate on our job and not let the group down.”