Christopher Jullien has lifted the lid on the ill-fated end to his time at Celtic and admitted he just 'didn't click' with boss Ange Postecoglou.
Jullien was a mainstay when he arrived at Parkhead under Neil Lennon in 2019 as he helped guide the Hoops to a memorable quadruple treble. But injury hampered his second campaign before Lennon was axed and Postecoglou eventually brought in to succeed the Northern Irishman.
That was a catalyst in Jullien's demise in Glasgow with the 29-year-old failing to break the formidable defensive partnership of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt after making his long-awaited injury comeback last season. He was left to rot on the bench with just one substitute appearance and it became inevitable that he wasn't in Postecoglou's plans before a summer exit to French side Montpellier was secured last August.
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He told the Daily Mail: "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.
"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."
Jullien was also left with a sour taste in his mouth after leaving Celtic without a proper send-off as well as the inability to showcase that he was fit and ready to play a role in Postecoglou's side.
And he has revealed that he didn't even bother saying goodbye to his boss when he sealed a £1million move away from the club in August because of how "distant" their relationship had become.
He explained: "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."
Jullien does confess that he really enjoyed the early stages of his three year spell at Celtic and formed a close bond with former manager Lennon.
He added: "The big thing I remember about the boss is that he was really close with us. He was like a good, old friend. We had so much respect for him.
"And he gave us that winning mentality. To never give up. And the duo - him and Kendo (John Kennedy), I think that was the perfect partnership. I was grateful to them both and happy to experience that cup win with them."
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