Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has stated that he hasn’t been giving Chris Jullien or Stephen Welsh minutes as he’s wary of rotating his centre-backs.
Since the turn of the year, the campaign has been something of a write-off for the Hoops duo who have struggled to make any sort of impact. Jullien returned from over a year out back in January and has only been given 16 minutes of action. That came in a Scottish Cup home clash against Raith Rovers.
Welsh, meanwhile, did feature in several Scottish Cup matches but hasn’t played a single minute in the Premiership title run-in.
And the manager has stated that the lack of minutes has simply been down to his decision not to mix things up at the back. Speaking via Celtic TV, the manager said: “Chris is training hard and is available. We’ll see how the last couple of games go. It’s obviously been a challenge for him and Stephen Welsh to be fair. With Cameron and Carl doing well, particularly in this last period where we haven’t had any midweek games.
“My feeling has always been in terms of rotation that most parts of the field you’re pretty comfortable to rotate. But defensively you need understanding and cohesion and it’s harder to give guys game-time so that’s, unfortunately, the situation Chris has been in.
“In terms of the future we’ll sit down at the end of the year like I will with all the players and we’ll chart a way forward. With all of these things, we’ll end up doing what’s best for the player and what’s best for the club.”
Celtic boss’ rotation policy doesn’t read well for back-up defenders
You can’t really argue with what the manager is saying here. It’s been absolutely vital to stick by the understanding and chemistry already built up between Starfelt and CCV this season. Had he switched things up and we dropped points, that would be the first decision he would’ve been called out for.
But there’s a stark reality there in that it’s difficult to see a route there for the likes of Jullien and Welsh to become first-choice centre-backs at Parkhead. Not if Ange is deciding to only throw one or the other in when there are injury or suspension problems.
Welsh, of course, had the opportunity to go to Serie A at the start of the year before the manager interjected and stated he wasn’t going anywhere [Celtic TV]. Celtic of course need to have backup options, but you wonder whether he would’ve benefited from a potential move.
You also wonder whether Ange would be happy for Welsh to go under a similar deal this summer. The same goes for Jullien, who looks so far out of the picture at the moment.
Pre-season will be extremely telling where both players are concerned. We’ll get a better view then regarding whether the manager sees them as potential first-choice options this season.
But for now, they’ll have to settle with hoping that the title is wrapped up tomorrow for a potential trophy day cameo.
In other news, Carl Starfelt addresses ridiculous Celtic critics after shutting them up
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