Lazio boo-boys won’t faze Jullien in crunch tie
The Lazio fans will be wasting their time shouting abuse at Celtic’s Christopher Jullien on Thursday.
Parts of the Stadio Olimpico will be closed for the Europa League tie because of racist incidents that occurred during a previous match against Rennes. Jullien, who scored the winner in Celtic’s 2- 1 home win over Lazio, is hoping for an incident-free trip to Rome. However, the French centre- half is adamant he won’t be put off his game by boos from the stands.
Jullien said: “Oh no, I love that!
“I don’t know if it makes me a better player. But more focused, for sure. “When you play away in a hostile environment and you can make the crowd silent, it’s really enjoyable. “I’m not worried about racism. “I’m not scared about that. I’m focused on the field. But I really hope the two sets of fans can make a great atmosphere.
“I remember playing in France and going to face Marseille.
“We got a draw and all the fans flipped to the other side and were more cheering us at the end.
“If the Italian fans want to be with us, we will welcome that.
“I just can’t wait for this game. It will be the first time I’ve played in Italy.
“We will see how everything develops on the field.
“It’s our goal to stay on top of the Europa League group, and that means we’re the target for the other teams.
“It’s up to them to attack us to try to beat us.”
Jullien won his first Old Firm game in front of a crowd that was overwhelmingly backing Rangers at Ibrox.
Just 800 Celtic supporters were given tickets to watch the 2- 0 victory in September. But the player says he was unaware of a hostile atmosphere.
The 26- year- old said: “I have to admit I was more focused on my opponent in that game.
“It was the first Old Firm match that I had played in and I tried to not get the crowd thing stuck in my mind.
“I just remember enjoying the feeling of victory at the end, and enjoying it with the fans.”
Meanwhile, Hoops boss Neil Lennon admits that talk of potential crowd trouble is a worry.
The Northern Irishman said: “In the main, we’ve got a great reputation for travelling in Europe.
“I want that to continue, for the fans to enjoy the experience and to be careful.
“I don’t think there is any animosity between the two clubs.
“The off-field issue is something that is separate from the football, and we want to quell that as quickly as possible before we, or anyone else, travels out there.
“We should try to make some friends while we’re in Rome rather than create any animosity.”
However, Lennon concedes that Celtic fans displaying inflammatory banners is something they could do without.
“I’m not going to come out and criticise our supporters. In the main they are good, but it doesn’t help,” said the manager. “That’s all I can say on it.
“We do have a great reputation as a club worldwide and we want to maintain that.
“I can’t speak on behalf of those people with the banners, but it doesn’t do the club any good.”
A victory against Lazio could send Celtic into the knock- out stage of the Europa League with two games still to play.
They need Cluj to beat Rennes for that to happen. But history is against them. T h e Ho o p s have never won a competitive game in Italy.
Lennon said: “There’s a first time for everything. We know how difficult the tie will be.
“Just recently Lazio have started to pick up a bit of form in the league.
“They had a great win in midweek against Torino, and a great win away to Fiorentina as well.
“We saw two weeks ago they are a fantastic side.
“We played really well and we are going to need more of that again. The incentive is there.
“I’m not saying we are going to win the game. But we are going to do everything we can to not get beaten and keep a strong position in the group.
“I think the pressure’s all on Lazio because if they were to lose, they would be seven points behind us.
“It’s a game we have to savour because we’ve done a huge amount of good work so far in the group.
“There won’t be the intense atmosphere we had at Celtic Park. But it’s still a great stadium to go to.
“I want my players to embrace it.”