JULLIEN FEELS EMPTY
Prospect of playing for Celtic behind closed doors fills defender with dread after his previous ‘bizarre’ experience
CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN has bright and vivid memories of tucking away his League Cup-winning goal and running full pelt towards the Celtic supporters near the Hampden corner flag. The very thought of executing a similar moment in a vacant stadium leaves him feeling somewhat, well, empty.
Two years ago, the defender contested a crucial relegation play-off match for his former club Toulouse in a deserted stadium on account of the behaviour of the opposition fans.
It’s not something the 27-year-old would ever wish to repeat but, as the world tries to stave off a deadly virus, he acknowledges that these are not normal times.
The spectre of closed-door matches — assuming a way is found to facilitate Scottish football at all — is very real as the long-term implications of the coronavirus pandemic begin to hit home.
A decision to call the Premiership season as it stands and crown Celtic champions remains likely. Once made, the authorities’ priority will move towards getting season 2020-21 started as soon as is practicable.
By way of a curtain-raiser, the Scottish FA are likely to stage the completion of this season’s Scottish Cup in a quick-fire format that would see Neil Lennon’s team play out their semi-final against Aberdeen, with the winners facing Hearts or
Hibs in the final.
With the Scottish government advising no mass gatherings will take place until next year, those matches would almost certainly go on without an attendant audience.
‘It’s difficult to play in the stadium when it is empty,’ admits Jullien. ‘But this is not a situation you can compare to any other. It’s not normal.
‘It’s not good for the players or the fans but, with this disease, it is not possible to be in the stadium together.
‘It’s a big, strange situation. We have never lived through anything like this before.’
Without a vaccine and with testing capacity well short of projected levels, the challenge to reach a stage where even closed-door games are possible is significant.
For Jullien, that prospect is far from ideal.
When he completed his transfer to Celtic last summer, he made a point of establishing a rapport with the club’s supporters.
A centre-back who plays with emotion — sometimes to a fault — it quickly became apparent that the Frenchman’s personality feeds off the noise and energy transmitted from the stands. Which is why the possibility of empty stadiums makes him glum.
‘For me, the relationship with the supporters is the most important thing. Football, and sport in general, would not be the same without fans.
‘I like to react with them and they have been great to me since I signed — they have welcomed me. To give them something back has been really important for me.’
The £7million defender was given his first taste of closed-door football as Toulouse battled to preserve Ligue 1 status in a two-legged play-off against Ajaccio.
Supporters of the Corsican side had run amok before the pre-play-off fixture against Le Havre, stoning the team bus and forcing the game’s postponement by 48 hours.
‘The away leg was moved from Corsica because of crowd trouble,’ recalls Jullien. ‘Ajaccio fans had done some really dirty stuff before the previous game, so our match was relocated to Montpellier.’
Jullien went on to score in a comfortable 3-0 win for Toulouse but did not leave with any special memories of the occasion.
‘It was a strange moment, so different because you hear everything on the field,’ he adds. ‘That took a lot of getting used to.
‘It’s not something I’d want to experience again but these are different times.’
Jullien has become just as renowned, if not more so, for his goals than his defending during his first season in Glasgow.
He first arrived on the European stage when he netted in the Europa League play-off win over
AIK and he bettered that with a last-minute winner against Lazio in the tournament’s group stage.
Yet it’s that cup final goal against
Rangers that burns brightest in the memory, the defining moment on a day in which goalkeeper
Fraser Forster pulled out a string of saves to keep Celtic in contention.
‘That was such a big achievement, my favourite goal,’ continues Jullien. ‘It was my first trophy with the club, and to do it that day...
‘It was not a good game from us, we just wanted it more. We were really focused. When you come through such a difficult game and you win, it’s an unbelievable feeling.
‘My family was in the stand and everyone was very happy. So I could say it’s the best goal of my life.
‘To have done that without the supporters there? It would not be the same. In that moment it, would be very strange.
‘The fans are so important in our game. My wife’s family is from Cardiff and they told me that I would experience something incredible when I signed for
Celtic. I just wanted to be accepted. I have been and I have tried to give them back everything that I could. It could not have been better. I have scored in some big games and those goals have brought me closer to the fans.
‘Last week, the club posted something online about my goals and it brought back the memories. I miss those moments and I hope they can come back soon.’
For now, Jullien and family are observing lockdown at their Renfrewshire home, where he is finding the sunshine reminiscent of the French Riviera.
‘I’m still here with my girl and
‘IT WAS STRANGE, SO DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU CAN HEAR EVERYTHING ON THE FIELD’
my kid and we are getting some of the best weather,’ he laughs. ‘I have a good garden, so my son and I are spending some time out there.
‘I haven’t been to train at Lennoxtown for a few weeks but I have what I need here to do my workouts and there aren’t too many people where I live, so I can get out to run during the day.
‘The club sent us a programme individually tailored. That keeps me busy and in shape.’
Jullien soon hopes to be reunited with his friends and colleagues at Celtic’s training ground. He says: ‘Coming to Celtic has been an unbelievable journey for me. This is the best team I have played with since the beginning of my career. ‘I just miss the fact the football is not there any more. I can’t wait to get back with my team-mates.
‘Although football is so important in our lives, it is not the most important thing. Whenever I call my family or friends, we speak about whether everyone is safe and well. That’s what matters.
‘When you sit on your couch now and think about what you used to do — go into the city, go for a walk with family, have a nice meal — it seems so difficult.
‘We just pray that everything is going to be fine.’