CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN admitted he is excited about meeting new manager Ange Postecoglou – despite the fact he will miss the start of the Aussie Revolution.
The French centre-back didn’t kick a ball for the Hoops in the second part of the season after injuring a knee in a sickening collision with an upright in the 3-0 win over Dundee United at Parkhead on December 30.
It’s too early to say when the £7million defender will be fit enough to play his part in the new campaign, but he can’t wait to meet Neil Lennon’s successor who, after completing the required quarantine period in London, will meet Hoops players at Lennoxtown this week ahead of the pre-season training camp in Wales early next month.
DOWN AND OUT…Christopher Jullien is treated by Tom Wilkinson following his injury against Dundee United in December.
Twenty-eight-year-old Jullien, speaking to the Celtic website, said: “I can’t wait! I’m looking forward to, first of all, meeting the manager and seeing how he is. He’ll be excited for the new challenge and we are, too.
“I’ve heard from a lot of guys who have worked with him and they all say the same thing, that he’s a great manager who has good tactics and has his teams play good football. That’s really exciting for us and now I can’t wait for the first training session with him.
“The experience he has of winning and building a team with quality is exciting and I can’t wait to be part of it. When I was playing in France, we changed coaches and when there’s a new coach it changes every aspect of the team. It brings energy and helps players find their best form.
HEAVENS ABOVE…Christopher Jullien celebrates scoring against Motherwell in September.
“Everyone is starting anew and we all have to prove ourselves and prove that we deserve to play. There’s going to be competition for the whole team and that’s good for everyone.
“We know he’s going to come and bring his ideas to European football and he’ll be able to show everyone what he’s capable of. To succeed in the way he has and to have that winning mentality, is already something big and he’ll want to show everyone how his teams can play. I’m can’t wait to be part of that, to achieve the goals with him and to succeed.
“I always want to work under a coach who can help me learn and improve every day and I can’t wait to start learning from all his knowledge and experience. I know he’ll help me to become a better player, so I’m excited to start and see what he brings to the whole team.”
