HERE TO LEND A HELPING HAND
Jullien is a shoulder for new Bhoy Barkas to lean on as he finds his feet at Parkhead
CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN knows what it feels like to be the new boy with the big price tag. So, as Vasilis Barkas begins the integration process at Celtic, he can count on the support and empathy of his new defensive colleague.
Just as £5million goalkeeper Barkas has been recruited to fill a gaping hole in the rearguard of Neil Lennon’s team, so Jullien arrived a year ago with giant expectations on his broad shoulders.
Short of match fitness, the Frenchman admits he arrived in Glasgow undercooked and was moved in and out of the side as Celtic fell at the qualifying stages of the Champions League.
He also admits he had to rethink his mentality. After a season fighting relegation at Toulouse, the demands of winning every week at his new club represented a culture shock to the 6ft 5in centre-back.
In time, Jullien adapted, both to the demands generated by his £7m fee and to the wishes of a crowd hell-bent on seeing their club not only secure a ninth successive championship, but reach the coveted milestone of 10 in a row.
Speaking at his introductory media conference on Thursday, it was clear Greece international
Barkas had been well briefed on the pursuit of the 10.
For the nuts and bolts on match days, Jullien will be happy to offer a guiding hand.
‘I saw Vasilis on Friday morning and it was nice to talk to him,’ said Jullien. ‘He’s just arrived, so I think I’ll have to do a bit of what the guys did for me last year.
‘They made me feel comfortable on the field and we have to do the same for him.
‘When I arrived, I was interviewed and said it would be really difficult for me because I’m arriving into a team that had won everything.
‘I had to show what I could bring to the club and the team. My team-mates helped me relax on the field and made me really at home.
‘We had a great year and now I can’t wait to see how the new season arrives.
‘As a goalkeeper, you need to be comfortable. In terms of talking, his position means he will probably have more advice to give to me in terms of positioning but we will need to take a few games together first. I can’t wait to play with him and see how he gets on in the team.’
The decision on whether to start
Barkas or Scott Bain in today’s SPFL Premiership opener against Hamilton was still being chewed over by Lennon going into the weekend.
On one hand, the manager might feel inclined to name the new signing among his nine subs and give him a chance to watch his new teammates up close for the first time.
Equally, he might view the match about as gentle a debut assignment as he could hand the 26-year-old. In an encounter where Celtic should monopolise possession, the keeper is unlikely to find himself overworked.
Barkas trained with goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods on Thursday before joining the rest of the squad in a full session on Friday.
‘We will see how Vasilis is in terms of the game,’ said Lennon. ‘If not, we will be quite comfortable to go with Scott, who has had a very good pre-season.
‘The training will be intense for Vasilis in the next 10 days to two weeks. He needs some sort of cohesion with the way we play and the culture of the game. And also with the individuals he will be playing behind.’
The stand-out moment of Jullien’s maiden season came in the League Cup final when he scored the winning goal against Rangers.
But if the defender enjoyed his moment of glory, the real matchwinner was Fraser Forster. Returned to the club on loan from Southampton, he saved a penalty from Alfredo Morelos and pulled off several more fine saves to secure a charmed victory for Celtic.
Lennon spent much of the summer pursuing a permanent deal for Forster before settling on Barkas. Jullien feels comparisons would be extremely unfair.
‘The club and all of Glasgow knows what Fraser did for us last year,’ he continued. ‘He is the best goalkeeper I’ve had at my back but comparing the new keeper with Fraser is a mistake.
‘He has his qualities and so does Fraser. He’s a big guy and I think he has played a lot of games to know what is needed from him. He knows the expectation of the club.’
Capped 10 times by Greece, Barkas became used to challenging for titles and trophies with AEK Athens and, indeed, helped his club knock Celtic out during Champions League qualifying a couple of years back.
A mix of personality and physicality were Jullien’s selling points ahead of his move from France, but he needed to make adjustments.
A bruising encounter with Livingston’s Lyndon Dykes drew some dramatic behaviour ill-fitting of a central defender but, to his credit, Jullien resolved to improve and — by and large — delivered.
The league season may have been cut short before Celtic were awarded the title but Jullien saw out lockdown at his new family home in Renfrewshire.
He feels settled and adjusted to his new environment.
‘My point of view is different. Before I came to Scotland I was with a team that was at the bottom of the Championship, so it was a different aspect of the game.
‘Today at Celtic I am in a more attacking team, playing different than I was in France. At Toulouse, we were not on the ball so much but defending.
‘Here it is all different, a lot more physical. In France, it is true you can find some pure talent who are really good with the ball. France is more technical but there are still some good players in this league.’
Asked if he expected to take on a more senior role this term, Jullien was forthright in his response.
‘I’d answer by saying no. I’d say I’d be the man I’ve been since I arrived,’ claimed the Frenchman. ‘I have tried to do my job. When I’m at the back, I always try to give advice to my team-mates when they’re in front of me or the goalkeeper.
‘We have unbelievable leaders like Broony (Scott Brown), Callum (McGregor) and Jamesy (Forrest). I’m here to do my job and help them and us to win every week and to win the championship.
‘I think we’ll hear about how important this season is for Celtic but in the dressing room we just have to keep it like it was last year.
‘Talk about 10 in a row will be in the media and everywhere because it’s the thing the club did for the last nine years.
‘It will be one of the biggest seasons when the media focus will be on Celtic — but that’s what’s supposed to happen.
‘We know what we have to do every weekend.’