Chris Jullien has given a little insight into one of the many mysteries of the disastrous 20/21 season.
Fortunately the success of Ange Postecoglou has thrown a vail over the most miserable season this century.
There is unlikely to be much of a market for it but if the inside story is ever uncovered it will make fascinating reading.
A season behind-closed-doors was the underlying factor but Celtic still managed to pack a decade worth of disasters into a 10 month period.
In pre-season Neil Lennon outed Leigh Griffiths, Boli Bolingoli awarded himself a two day holiday that resulted in two matches being postponed.
Big money signings Vasilis Barkas and Albian Ajeti made no impact, others wanted transfers with Europe a disaster since a side with no strikers were knocked out of the Champions League at home to Ferencvaros.
Dubai is worth a chapter or two all to itself. Just over a week after suffering a bad knee injury Jullian joined the ill-fated trip, returned with Covid and the knock on effect of leaving the squad decimated for two matches.
Recalling that time Jullien told the Daily Mail:
The club weren’t sure how serious the injury was and told me I could either start my rehabilitation in Glasgow or use the big gym in Dubai where the weather is good.Â
Do I stay and train by myself or go with my team-mates? Of course I went! It was a no-brainer. To come back and find out I had Covid – I felt responsible and I said that to the team.
Nobody caught it from me but some players who were ruled as close contacts had to stay in the house.
After that I went back to France for my rehabilitation and I saw from afar that the coach had been fired. I thought, ‘man, I’m not even there to witness this.’
I sent him a text thanking him because he was the one who put the validation on my case for coming to Celtic. But in the end I wasn’t there to help. Oh, it was a big mess.
Jullien never played a minute of competitive football in 2021, last summer he moved to Montpellier rather than sit it out in the final year of his Celtic contract.
Lawwells part in that disastrous season shouldn’t be forgotten. He should have went with Lennon – never to return. Typical of this board they make him chairman.
Nothing more certain in that he will have a say in Ange leaving. You couldn’t write it.
Lawwell and Lennon – The men that blew the ten – (and the duds on the pitch)…
The Green Brigade did warn them in a banner not to fall asleep at the wheel but hey ho – The Ten to Parkhead was a big no-no…
Cheers guys – Not !