Josip is settling into life in Berlin but it’s clear his heart is still at Celtic and he’s dreaming of a Champions League reunion.
The former Hoops fans favourite was a shock January departure when he headed in a £7.5m deal to the Bundesliga. New club Union Berlin are flying high in third place in Germany and with his old club racing clear in Scotland, Juranovic admitted he’d love the chance of a quick fire return to Glasgow next season.
The Croatia star obviously keeps a close eye on his former side as he clocked Fashion Sakala’s ‘other mob’ stooshy over in Germany and was roaring the Hoops on during Sunday’s Viaplay Cup Final win against Rangers. And Juranovic didn’t get the chance to say a proper goodbye to the Parkhead punters as he was snapped up by Union after his impressive displays at the World Cup. Juranovic lapped up the Champions League nights with Celts earlier in the campaign and admitted he’d love the chance to return with his new club next term.
The 27-year-old said: “I am fighting here for the Champions League. I was playing there at Celtic and I want to stay there. That’s the main reason why I moved here because it is a top five league and we are third in the table now. We want to improve on that still. And I want to hear the music again soon. I like Celtic, I love the club and I had 18 beautiful months there. If the Champions League gave me a reason to go back to Celtic Park then I would really love that. Yeah, that's my main target. We will see what will happen.”
Union are determined to hang on to a Champions League place but Juranovic reckons Celtic are in strong shape to keep up their side of the bargain and make sure he receives a winners medal in the post. When asked if he felt the Hoops could kick on and win the Treble, he chuckled and said: “I hope so, that means I can have more trophies in my back pocket.”
“It's nine points in front of, how Sakala said... 'the other mob!’. At Celtic, the Scottish league is competitive, maybe not as much, but you are playing against defensive teams and you need to score.
“Sometimes it’s not that easy. Then you have the Old Firm derby and you need to perform well. You also need to win the championship to get to the Champions League.”
Juranovic was thrilled his Hoops mates did the business at Hampden at the weekend and revealed he turned in, even though he was preparing for Union’s big clash with Bundesliga big guns Bayern Munich.
He said: “I watched maybe 35 minutes because I had a game against Bayern here. In my heart I knew that we – we! – would win the cup. I am still talking with my friends at Celtic. I wished them all luck and told them I would be watching them and that I was really happy that they won the first trophy, but not the last one this year.
“I am texting all the time with Joe Hart, Matt O’Reilly, Jota. Who else? Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada… I have a lot of friends there and I will keep in touch with them through their life.”
Juranovic loved his time in Scotland – and especially the Old Firm clashes.
The World Cup star was pitched into a high pressure debut when he arrived in Glasgow and started against Rangers in the 1-0 defeat at Ibrox early in Ange Postecoglou’s reign.
He was at left back again when he came off the bench in Govan in one of his final appearances for the Hoops as they snatched a 2-2 draw to maintain their huge lead at the top of the Premiership.
In between times there were thrilling wins at Parkhead and a lifetime worth of memories.
Juranovic said: “The Old Firm was my first game for Celtic. I played on the left side and it was really special.
“I think that is maybe one of the best derbies in the world. Just to see it and play in such an atmosphere is something unbelievable and I am really happy that I played there. At Celtic they accepted me from day one.”
The January draw was a tough one – but Juranovic insisted the derbies are never a breeze.
He said: “I can say it was a difficult time to go into the game at left back without preparation. But we didn’t lose, that was the most important thing against a good team. You saw it in the cup final, even at 2-0 you can’t rest as you lose a stupid goal and it can change.
“Even now in the Cup, you saw it at 2-0, we conceded a stupid goal. Then after, you have ball possession which is important against them.”
Juranovic is convinced Celtic are in top shape for the remainder of the season and the way his former side saw it out on Sunday was a show of power with Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers standing firm.
He said: “I know that Carl is a great person and an amazing football player. He made an impact immediately when he came to Celtic. Also, he was unbelievably good in the cup game, like CCV. The whole team is perfect.
“Reo Hatate is scoring and assisting. The baldy guy Oz (Aaron Mooy) is unbelievable! Celtic are doing great and I am really happy to see that.”
