CELTIC STAR Christopher Jullien has taking advantage of the International break to go back home to France, where he just can’t stop talking about Celtic.
The defender, who joined the Hoops in July in a £7million transfer deal from Toulouse has appeared on French TV and all the chat seems to have been about what it’s like playing for the Scottish Champions who are high flyers in this season’s Europa League.
Celtic of course have been getting great exposure in France over the past few years. Moussa Dembele’s exploits in the Hoops received widespread media coverage in his homeland and more recently late French winners for Celtic in both matches against Lazio in the Europa League have been widely shown around Europe.
🍀 Olivier Ntcham nets 95th-minute winner
🍀 Celtic seal place in knockout stage
🍀 @CelticFC win in Italy for the first time EVER! 🇮🇹#UEL | #FlashbackFriday pic.twitter.com/OG5IrtFZXA— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) November 15, 2019
Jullien grabbed the winner in the 2-1 win at Celtic Park against the Italian giants before Olivier Ntcham’s dink five minutes into stoppage time in Rome gave Celtic our first ever win won Italian soil and at the same time eliminated current French Cup holders Rennes who are visitors to Celtic Park for the Europa League match day 5 a week on Thursday.
Their manager, Julien Stéphan, has already indicated that he plans to play youth players against Celtic and in the final group match against Lazio in Brittany on 12 December.
And of course the French interest in all things Celtic has been heightened by the exploits of Odsonne Edouard who is fast becoming the most talked about striker in his homeland for his exploits for the French Under 21s. Odsonne’s 92nd minute penalty, away to Georgia in the Euro qualifier, gave France a 3-2 victory and continues their winning run in the qualifiers, helped of course by the Celtic striker’s 10 goals in five games for France Under 21s. The French media have clearly noticed the goalscoring prowess of the Celtic Star, this was Equipe de France before the game on Friday evening.
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 15, 2019
What is something of a mystery is why the French seem surprised by the goalscoring form shown by Odsonne Edouard wearing his country’s colours.
Look at his record for all levels of International football, as tweeted by Celtic Soccer Show.
Odsonne Edouard for France:
U17: 14 games, 15 goals
U18: 9 games, 4 goals
U19: 13 games, 5 goals
U21: 5 games, 10 goals
Odsonne Edouard for France:
U17: 14 games, 15 goals
U18: 9 games, 4 goals
U19: 13 games, 5 goals
U21: 5 games, 10 goals pic.twitter.com/u502D5pwoL— Celtic Soccer Show (@CelticSoccrShow) November 16, 2019
Anyway back to French TV celebrity Christopher Jullien and his high profile appearance on beIN SPORTS France. Here’s what happened with an attempt at translation below, courtesy of Pat Don.
Check @Celtic_FR for some translation during the week ✌🏾 https://t.co/jz45LQI2B6
— Chris Jullien.. (@Chri6ViF) November 17, 2019
“I reckon he was saying that it gets dark really early (4.30pm), that the Celtic fans are really nice, it’s a bit hard when he wants to have a meal or drink with his family and that he is under no illusions about the importance of first equalling 9 in a row and then getting 10,” Pat translated.
Super moment @beinsports_FR 👊🏾🍀 pic.twitter.com/fvJhvdg26S
— Chris Jullien.. (@Chri6ViF) November 17, 2019
Here’s what happened…
📺 #TribuneSports
🎙 Christopher Jullien revient sur le niveau du championnat écossais
🗯 “En Ecosse, il n’y a pas la VAR, c’est un peu plus physique. Dans le jeu, c’est beaucoup plus rugueux.” pic.twitter.com/VY5rtidomC— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 17, 2019
Boab noted this: “People say footballers are thick, but that’s lads French is very good.”
Bolingoli (not the player) more seriously said: “Basically saying there is no VAR up here, more physical and it’s a lot rougher.
And it went into Extra Time too.
📺 #TribuneSports
🔥 Extra-time avec @JferreiraBeIN et @chri6vif ! pic.twitter.com/QXBd0T32Bs— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 17, 2019
Chris Steven Mackle translated roughly as this: “To summarize, if he had a wish it would be to go to the final of the Europa league with Celtic this year! HailHail”
