Avant Garde

French defender, Christopher Jullien aims for the Hoops to keep the impetus going against Stade Rennais

- Tony Connelly

CELTIC come into the penultimate game of the UEFA Europa League group stages in the exceptional position of having already qualified for the knockout round. Maintaining that momentum is crucial according to Christopher Jullien who said topping the group is now a must.

Three weeks have passed since Celtic secured European football after Christmas with a historic win in Italy. It came exactly seven years to the day since the _ Hoops toppled a Barcelona side considered one of the best of all-time.

The 2-1 win over Lazio in Rome will forever be remembered with the same sense of majesty as that night the Catalan giants were defeated at Paradise. The win was Celtic’s first ever victory in Italy, and the three points guaranteed Neil Lennon's side a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Such is the ambition of the Hoops side that they have put Rome behind them and are now focused on their next target. Celtic currently sit atop Group E and Jullien said the Bhoys are determined to keep it that way and ensure the momentum they have built up remains strong.

“Now that we’ve qualified the target will be to top the group,” said Jullien. “That would be the perfect end to the group stages, and we'll do everything to make that possible because we don’t know what the draw in the knockout stages could bring.

“I believe we can keep the momentum that we have. We'll go into every game in Europe looking to play the best game we can and we'll see what we can take from that.”

It’s rare for any side in Europe to qualify from the group stages with two games to spare, and for Celtic to do that in a group containing Lazio and Rennes highlights the form Neil Lennon’s side have been in recently.