ODSONNE FOR A CALL-UP
It’s French fancy list for Hoops
ambitions further afield and has a burning desire to lead Celtic to the Champions League group stage.
The quest kicks off next month with potentially three make-or-break one-off ties before a two-legged play-off round.
Celtic are in the box seat to be seeded all the way through but it remains a treacherous path.
Neil Lennon’s men will need to hit the ground running and that is why Jullien reckons these three games in France will be just the ticket to get the Hoops firing.
He said: “It would be great to have the Champions League this season.
“We know that it is going to be different in the qualifiers this year with just one game in each round instead of two until you get to the play-off round.
“But we have to be ready and we work hard every day for this type of game. “So I’m sure we will be ready when the matches do come around.”
CELTIC have been hoarding the silverware in Scotland in recent years but they’ll have their work cut out to grab another trophy for the cabinet in France this week. The Hoops will crank up their pre-season building at the Lyon Tournament with the Veolia Trophy on the line as well as the chance to test themselves against top-class opposition. Neil Lennon’s squad landed a couple of days ago and are based on the outskirts of Lyon, where they have been working on getting game ready for tomorrow night’s opener against Nice. Celts kick-off at 5.15pm at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium – with Rangers squaring up with the hosts immediately afterwards at 7.45pm. Lennon’s troops will recover back at their camp and they could get the chance to see their Old Firm rivals in action against Nice at 5.15pm on Saturday. The champions then take on Lyon – and face a reunion with ex-Celt Moussa Dembele – at 7.45pm. Celtic will say farewell to their Old Firm chums at that stage and while Gers will return to Glasgow, the Parkhead men will head for Paris on Sunday for a reunion with PSG. It could be deep breath time as they get set to take on the side that have found their shooting boots and they hosed Le Harve 9-0 last weekend. Kick off is 6pm. Celtic v Nice, Thursday July 16, 5.15pm. Celtic v Lyon, Saturday, July 18, 7.45pm Celtic v PSG, Tuesday, July 21, 6pm.
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