As we all know, of all the clubs in the United Kingdom, few sets of fans are as passionate about their football club as Celtic.
After all, they have one of the most renowned rivalries at the heart of their city with Rangers, and Parkhead is often talked about as one of the stadiums you have to visit in your lifetime.
All this might be great for fans, but for Celtic players, the passion can be a little overwhelming, especially when you come from a club like Toulouse in France, which, despite still being well supported, isn’t quite on the same level as the Scottish Premiership champions.
Speaking to France Football, new signing Christopher Jullien spoke about his first impressions a few weeks after his €8m summer arrival from the south of France.
He said: “There’s a lot of things to say… It’s huge. Everything the club does for Scotland, for its fans. Celtic’s stature is incredible. I still get surprised by certain things. The stadium, the fans… Living this, it’s super cool. In France, you don’t realise, but when you’re in it, it’s huge.
“I knew I wanted to make a step up, but I wasn’t expecting this much. Everyday I discover the extent of this club’s authority and track record. I can’t even walk in the streets! You just don’t realise this stuff from France.”
After first mentioning the stadium, the player dedicated a rather large chunk of the interview on Celtic Park, an arena that scares many teams who travel for European fixtures.
He explained: “It really is incredible. The atmosphere really is quite something. My first ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was during the first Champions League qualifier. I was on the bench. When you play, you don’t really hear it, but when you’re on the bench, you’re out a bit earlier and you hear it. It’s cool to experience it.
“The atmosphere is incredible. When I bring my friends over, they’re don’t believe it. They tell me it’s night and day (compared to Toulouse). Toulouse is a good stadium, with good fans, but it isn’t a stadium of this size. It’s different. When you go from Toulouse to here, it’s a bit strange.”
The same goes for his first ever Old Firm derby against Rangers (a 2-0 win), in which he played the full 90 minutes, with Jullien literally lost for words (“I don’t know how to describe it…”) when asked about it.
It’s fair to say the 26-year-old is thoroughly enjoying himself in Scotland so far, and it seems the fans have already taken to him too.
Next up, Rennes in the Europa League.
