Christopher Jullien

It's an interesting one.

He's clearly shown he is good enough during the time he's been here but the reality is that we don't need him, CCV and Starfelt - there's too much stylistic overlap - especially with Ange's style of relentlessly playing out from the back.

The style does need different players - a keeper that is truly comfortable with the ball at his feet and a different style centre-back that can make incisive vertical passes and drive forward to disrupt opposition's deep structure, or to bypass the high press when that's the set up. We get away with this today against average opposition with Starfelt and CCV, we need to aim for more though.

My fear is the board will not see through the CCV deal and have Jullien and Starfelt as the more traditional defenders while supplementing them with a new ball-playing defender.

We should offload Jullien as it's far too much a risk at this point.

 

I think if he was back to full fitness it would be a complete no brainer.

He would still have his work cut-out to break into the team, but we’re not exactly blessed with depth at CB as it is. An injury to CCV could’ve had a very different outlook on the season.

 

We are talking about next year, though.


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Yeah, and I think it stands for next year. If he was hypothetically back to full fitness, and performing at the level he did pre-injury, keeping him would be a no-brainer.

 

Give him 30-45 against Dundee United then start him against Motherwell.

 

I think there'd be a difficult decision in the summer if that was the case. We will very likely sign a ball playing centre back capable of being a starting. Would leave us with too many on too big a salary.

 

Don't see where he fits in if am being honest. I'd be happy to let him go and bring in someone else along with CCV. Had some great moments for us but is also prone to absolute howlers.

 

Has to go..

Clearly miles away still and for what Ange wants from his centre halves..

Another big wage off and a left sided, quick, dominant, ball playing centre half in..

 

I’d punt him in favour of getting a new CB who will fit Ange’s system.

Jullien doesn’t have the pace or passing ability for it.

 

His insta post's got boring real quick zzzzzz..

 

You’d think he’s a teenage lassie going by his social media.

 

Hopefully him scoring tomorrow with a header to win the league

 

Hope so.

 

I think we need to remember that he has been through a lot over the last year and a half he will just be trying to keep himself motivated and upbeat, hope he gats some minutes befroe the season is done

 

He was never going to figure much this season, let him get up to speed, give him a preseason, then judge him at the start of next season

 

https://www.goal.com/fr/news/christ...je-suis-pret-a-lacher-les/blt6290d9d3e706936e
Christopher Jullien: "Since January, I've been ready to let go of the horses"


Make no mistake, Christopher Jullien is no longer injured. And for a long time. Hit in the knee in December 2020 and absent from the field for almost ten months, the Celtic defender no longer plays with the Scottish champion. A choice of coach Ange Postecoglou difficult to take and which leads the former Toulousain to ask questions about his future in Scotland. Exclusively for Goal , he talks about his situation, talks about his physique, his recovery but also his desire to return to the field.




am very well. This wound was long. It started on December 31, 2020 to be exact and then I had to work all year and I came back at the end of November with the team and since then it has been going very well. There were small discomforts but from January, I really felt good because I was able to absorb the sessions without any problem, without having any pain. And being able to chain the repetitions of efforts. From that moment, I said to myself: "that's it, I'm ready". Afterwards, it's the coach's choices, but since mid-January I've been feeling good, I'm ready to let go of the horses.



Your injury was long, what stages do you go through in this kind of situation?



There are really different stages but the first is to realize. When you have the surgeon who gives you the duration of your unavailability, it's hard. And when you're on the operating table that's when you realize. Either you're in a mode where you take it upon yourself and you fall on your fate, or you react and tell yourself that it's a new start. That's what I did after my operation. We immediately took the lead to start working on the Clairefontaine side. I had surgery on January 21, and on February 10 I was there. Today, I'm happy with the work I did because it wasn't easy mentally at first. And at the end when you think you've reached the end, that sometimes you have little discomfort, it's really hard. Mentally, you have to be really strong and that's where the difference is.



During this period, you also became a father for the second time. How has that helped you through this period?



On June 1, my baby girl was born. It definitely gave me a boost. I already have a little boy who just turned four and when you come home they allow you to change your mindset and clear your head. When you're injured like that, you also want to come back to the field to see the smile of your children or family members. When you're off the field, it's always a weird moment because your family usually asks you how the game went or debriefs you. They don't do that anymore.

“If ever the conditions do not change, the door will be open on my side”


You've played 16 minutes in the Scottish Cup this season and appeared on the bench for Celtic five times and most of the time you're not even in the squad. How do you explain this situation?



Since mid-January, I feel 100%, after that it is the choices of the coach. It belongs to him and he is successful: we have been champions since Wednesday and in December we won the Cup. And on the return phase, they only lost two points so it's really exceptional. For my part, I told the coach in January that I was ready to go. Now it's his choice and sometimes he doesn't take me on the bench because he prefers to take a midfielder who can play in central defense. I'm still unsatisfied with my playing time this season because it's frustrating and all I want is to be on the pitch.


Is it all the more frustrating that in your first season at Celtic you were one of the strong men of the team, scoring the winning goal in the League Cup final?



Yes of course. Since my first day at Celtic, the supporters, the fans, the staff, everyone has quickly adopted me. I felt really great and I still feel great. Now, what is difficult is the playing time. I have always been ready to give everything and the proof is that I had this injury by having saved a goal on the line which cost me a injury of almost ten months. I've always done my best for this club and that's why it's a little frustrating, but today the ball is in the coach's court.



Does this situation make you think about the rest of your adventure in Scotland?



Necessarily. Despite the fact that I gave everything for this club and I would have liked to bring more to the team this year, the playing time is not there at all. I still have a year of contract here and I would like to continue playing but my priority is to be on the pitch. But in my situation and with this playing time, it is not possible.



Which championship would you like to discover next season?



It remains open. I don't really have a preference. The only thing I know is that I am a competitor and I came to Celtic to win titles. I won some and I still have the ambition to win some and be on the pitch but today I miss it. If ever the conditions do not change, it is certain that on my side the door will be open to continue my career elsewhere in a club where the coach would be happy to be able to rely on my qualities.

“For the last match, if the coach could give me 90 minutes, that would be great”


Precisely, what do you think you can bring to a team today?



I've been professional for quite some time. So I have an experience to share. On the field when I'm in defense, there are a lot of things that I can see in the game or the attitudes. My number one goal, wherever I've been, is to be a leader behind and be able to help my team. What I did in L1 or at Celtic shows my qualities, everyone knows that on a set piece I can bring a lot.



Do you not have a desire to erase this current frustration?



Obviously ! The last time I found myself in a similar situation, I was playing in Germany (in Freiburg between 2013 and 2015) and I didn't have much playing time. But afterwards, the rebound I made in Dijon was good (38 games, 10 goals) and we moved up to L1. This vengeful spirit is there and I'm sure I'll be back. When I was on the operating table, I said to myself that it was a new beginning.






This Saturday, Celtic play their last game against Motherwell. Do you hope you can take part?



We talked about it with the coach and I told him that I hoped to have playing time since the match no longer matters since we are champions. That would be the best, I would love to be able to play. I also hope and know that the fans would like this because a lot of people are asking me questions to find out what's going on. They're so in doubt, they think I'm hurt. Some even send me messages to ask me if I can play, if I am still injured. If the coach could give me 90 minutes that would be great.

 

Shame to see it like that. Sounds more and more like Ange hasn't taken to him, in which case, best for him to also move on for his and our sake and we desperately need another CB in the door that is on par with peak Julien.