HOOPS BIDDING TO MAINTAIN GAP AT THE TOP OF SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
HOOPS FRENCH ACE JULLIEN IS KEEN TO EARN CELTS STRIPES
CHRISTOPHER Jullien is ready to answer his gaffer’s call to arms after Neil Lennon rallied his on-field generals.
The Celtic boss is looking for his main men to keep up the championship charge especially as skipper Scott Brown is struggling to make today’s Kilmarnock clash at Parkhead.
Jullien is glad to take responsibility – but insists the Hoops dressing room is packed with big-time players who are not afraid to step up.
The Frenchman said: “I’m trying to be a leader. I have the support of others in the team who are definitely leaders, like Scott and Callum Mcgregor.
“They make it easier for me. I just try to be as strong as I can and speak to my team-mates all the time.”
Jullien has emerged as a key part of Celtic’s glory quest this season. He produced another superb display in the Europa League 1-1 draw in Copenhagen on Thursday.
The £7million defender has slotted in seamlessly at Celtic Park and has finally got used to the brutal demands of fighting on so many fronts.
Lennon’s troops are facing their 11th game in 35 days in 2020 but Jullien insisted no one in his dressing room is slacking off.
He said: “It is just a champions’ mentality. I came to Celtic to have that mentality and to have team-mates who remind me every day that we are here to win everything.
“I’m happy to learn that this season and to be with colleagues who have that attitude is really enjoyable.
“We want to be involved in every competition and playing so often is the price you have to pay.
“We are a big club and have to play a lot. We have already won a trophy this season and we want more. We need to be focused and take it game by game.”
Jullien won’t lose any focus against Killie – but the Euro clash on Thursday is still in view.
Celts have one foot in the last-16 after a priceless away goal in Copenhagen but the giant defender left feeling disappointed not to be already safe.
The Hoops had enough chances to bury the tie in the first half but ended up hanging on as the Danes went for broke.
Jullien said: “We definitely feel we should be in a better position after the first leg.
“We could have been two or three goals up in the first 15 minutes.
“But that away goal is a positive for us and we’ll see how we get on at home.
The centre-half took a dunt on the head in the first half – and was given a sore head by the VAR carry on late on.
The former Toulouse man doesn’t mind taking one for the team but he would have preferred if the video ref had taken a peek at the Copenhagen goal.
Jullien said: “For my head knock goal, I told the referee and their striker that I was clearly in the air and was going to win the ball.
“He took more of my head than the ball. I’m not sure if they could have used VAR for that.
“I was more concerned about the Copenhagen goal – I think VAR should have come into that.”