I wish I had more time at Celtic – I couldn't get a look in under Ange (2025)

Christopher Jullien has opened up on his time at Parkhead admitting he knew his days were numbered following a serious knee injury that kept him out for a year

Christopher Jullien admits he knew the writing was on the wall at Celtic following a serious knee injury that kept him out of action for 12 months but insists he has no regrets about his three years at Parkhead.

The French defender was brought to the club by Neil Lennon in the summer of 2019 for £7million and played a starring role as the Hoops scooped up a fourth straight domestic treble.

He netted seven times in 47 games in total in that season, including the only goal in the 2019 League Cup final triumph over Rangers and a last minute winner in a 2-1 Europa League victory against Lazio.

However, Jullien suffered a devastating knee injury in a clash against Dundee United in December 2020 and after finally getting back fit again a year later, went onto make just one more appearance for the club with a cameo outing in a Scottish Cup victory over Raith Rovers in February 2022.

Ange Postecoglou had taken over the reins at Celtic in June 2021 from assistant coach John Kennedy following Lennon's dismissal four months earlier, and Jullien ended up leaving the club to return to France with current club Montpellier at the end of the campaign.

And while he learned a lot from the Aussie, the centre back could understand why it was difficult to get back into the Hoops team when he got fit again.

In an interview with The Celtic Way, he said: "I wish I could have more time (at Celtic).

"The thing is, though, Celtic were playing unstoppable and unbelievable football when I was making my way back.

"Some people were saying to me that I should go and see the manager and talk to him, to know why I was not playing or what I could do to get on the team. I heard them, but I asked them ‘Did you see the team playing this weekend? What can I do? Why would the manager change a team that is winning?’

"They were crushing everyone, and it was crazy."

The former France U20 international also compared the management styles of Lennon and Postecoglou.

"I think Neil (Lennon) was a bit closer to his players," he added. "Ange was a little less close to his player, but his way of playing, the way he coached, was really good.

"He made me learn some stuff, some crazy stuff about the position, everything about the pitch, how we wanted to play, how we want to attack and how we want to defend. I learned so much from Ange Postecoglou.

"But Lennon, after the first day we talked about things, He became kind of like a second father to me.

They were just two different managers, and I really think that at the end of the day, both of them had some good stuff. That's why they were managers of Celtic, you know? They were two really good managers.

“I remember when he (Lennon) came - he travelled to see me from a small, private airport!

"We had the time to come and have the meeting together. I remember that the meeting was really special. We had some private conversations, some good things to make me feel comfortable, and of course, some stuff about football.

"That made me feel comfortable, especially with his view of how he wanted to play and how he wanted me in the team. I thought it was a perfect match from that point.

"That is why I made the decision to join Celtic, and I still do not regret one per cent from that day – I do not regret anything."