There are plenty of multi-million-pound signings who would thumb their nose at playing for the kids at their rivals training ground. There are also many who would not only consider that a slight but, would also refuse to do so, no doubt moaning to their representatives at the same time.
That Christopher Jullien, as well it must also be acknowledged as Mikey Johnston, were willing to head to Murray Park and get 90 minutes of football under their belts in yesterday’s Glasgow Cup semi-final – a game the young Hoops eventually lost on penalties- shows there is a sound level of professionalism with Celtic’s £7m signing from Toulouse, and also a player, as Celtic B boss Tommy McIntyre told Celticfc.com, who should be considered a role model for those the Celtic defender played alongside yesterday afternoon.
🎙️ Tommy McIntyre: Penalty defeat is tough but there are plenty of positives to take
💬 “These are great games to be involved in. They’re not great when you don’t win them but the players need to learn as these are the ones you’re judged on.”🍀
📰 Post-match reaction below ⤵️
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 19, 2022
“Jullien is a great role model, young Josh Dede is only 16 and playing alongside him, as is Ewan Otoo. So it’s great for us that he can come in and it was a big bonus. Again, the attitude was first class from Jullien and I thought Johnston was the same.”
Neither Jullien or Johnston have had their injury troubles to seek in recent times, and with the form of those in the first team being so consistent it’s been difficult for Ange Postecoglou to offer either regular gametime.
Yet the positive attitude of being willing to take an opportunity to get 90 much needed minutes into their legs won’t have been missed by a manager who puts just as much reliance on player’s character as he does on ability.
It may well now be next season before Christopher Jullien or indeed Mikey Johnston see first team football, but pre-season will very much start with a clean slate, with new arrivals and those in-situ all desperate to show their worth. That Christopher Jullien and Mikey Johnston were willing to mix it with the kids to get back up to speed will only hold them in good stead with the manager next season.
Not every player would have even considered doing so.
Niall J
