Former Celtic defender Christopher Jullien has spoken about his exit from the club and his relationship with Ange Postecoglou. 

Having signed for the Hoops during the summer of 2019, he made a big impression during his first season in Glasgow having scored the winning goal in the League Cup final against Rangers as well as other important goal’s over the course which helped the Hoops win a historic quadruple treble. 

The following season, the Frenchman suffered a horrific knee injury having only just returned from the sidelines which kept out for the remainder of the campaign as the Hoops bid for ten in a row imploded. 

Ange Postecoglou’s arrival ultimately had consequences for the defender as he continued to recover from a year out. The defensive partnership of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt was solid and he couldn’t be given minutes which meant his only appearance came from off the bench.

Jullien departed the Scottish champions during the summer and returned back to his homeland to Ligue 1 side Montpellier. 

“I came back from France and I could see the coach was trying to implement new ideas. But I couldn’t take part. As he’s said, he doesn’t stop! He started on his way and never looked back,” said Jullien speaking to the [Daily Mail].

“I had some conversations at the beginning about how he sees the game. It was fascinating. I can say he is one of the best trainers I have witnessed. But the man himself, we just didn’t click.

“Sometimes my team-mates would say why not go and see him? And I’m like ‘man, what do you want me to say? The team is winning every game three or four-zero, you’re winning everything’.

“He was a really good coach but as a man we didn’t have that link. I understand that management is difficult. It’s not just 11 players and keeping everyone involved is hard because players can be impatient, emotional.

“I played just once. It was a cup game against a second division team and I felt I could have had more time but afterwards I said ‘thanks coach’.

“Before the season finished I went to see him, not to ask to play, but to see how he found me in training and my level. After we finished the meeting he said: ‘If we are champions I will probably give you some minutes’.

“It didn’t happen. It felt like he’d told me something and done the contrary.”

Football management can be very harsh at times and a summer exit became inevitable for the one time Celtic hero as he just wasn’t going to be offered the gametime which he was hoping for.

Although he was given some minutes during Celtic’s pre-season, there was no great relationship between both men which Jullien admits didn’t bother him too much as he didn’t say his farewell to the Hoops boss.

“When summer came I had the feeling he was really distant about me. So when I moved I didn’t say bye.

“I said goodbye to the people who helped me the most during my time at Celtic, Cal [Callum McGregor] was the first one I spoke to. Now I’m back playing in Ligue 1 and it feels good.

“I have no regrets about Celtic. The first year was unbelievable. The second year was a disaster! And the third year I was happy because I was back from injury.

“The surgeon gave me the green light in November, 11 months after the injury, so I knew I was fit but I never got the chance to show it.

“We played Motherwell on the final day when we were already champions. I thought I would have the last chance to play at Celtic Park in front of everyone.

“I remember after the game people were filming me during the celebrations and, looking at the footage, you would think this guy doesn’t care.

“But the thing is I didn’t participate in one minute of the championship. I did not run for this trophy, I never broke sweat for it. I wish I could have celebrated but inside my heart I just couldn’t.”