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Lille can beat Liverpool at Anfield – Lyon manager Claude Puel
Puel praises Liverpool fans...
16 Mar 2010 14:52:00
By Robin Bairner
Fresh from masterminding Olympique Lyonnais’ remarkable progress in the Champions League against Real Madrid, Claude Puel has endorsed Lille's chances of progression in the Europa League against Liverpool.
The Reds may have got back on track with a thumping victory over Portsmouth on Monday night, but Puel believes that les Dogues have the tools to not only progress, but also to cause a real stir on Thursday.
“I am sure that Lille have the means to win at Anfield,” he told local paper La Voix du Nord. “Their strengths and the profile of their team means that they will be able to block [Liverpool] and play fast and score on the counter-attack.”
Puel has raised questions over Liverpool’s desire to win Europe’s silver medal competition, stating: “I do not know how they will treat the match. The Champions League was more attractive to them, and this is certainly not the same thing.
“In the first leg, I think they did not take sufficient account of the Lille team, and they will be sturdier.”
Praise was reserved for the Liverpool fans by the French coach, who discussed his reverence of the Anfield experience. “There is an extraordinary atmosphere,” he said. “This kind of place is always mythical; it is a movement not to be missed. There are songs and communion; what emerges is something really special. The stands are close to the pitch, so one really sees everything. But it is not hostile; there is a lot of fair play. What is amazing is that despite a difficult season for the team, the fans are always behind them.”
The Lyon boss formerly led Lille into the knockout stages of the Champions League, though les Dogues, who are top scorers in Ligue 1 to date this term, are threatening his current club for a place in next season’s edition of the competition.
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The Reds may have got back on track with a thumping victory over Portsmouth on Monday night, but Puel believes that les Dogues have the tools to not only progress, but also to cause a real stir on Thursday.
“I am sure that Lille have the means to win at Anfield,” he told local paper La Voix du Nord. “Their strengths and the profile of their team means that they will be able to block [Liverpool] and play fast and score on the counter-attack.”
Puel has raised questions over Liverpool’s desire to win Europe’s silver medal competition, stating: “I do not know how they will treat the match. The Champions League was more attractive to them, and this is certainly not the same thing.
“In the first leg, I think they did not take sufficient account of the Lille team, and they will be sturdier.”
Praise was reserved for the Liverpool fans by the French coach, who discussed his reverence of the Anfield experience. “There is an extraordinary atmosphere,” he said. “This kind of place is always mythical; it is a movement not to be missed. There are songs and communion; what emerges is something really special. The stands are close to the pitch, so one really sees everything. But it is not hostile; there is a lot of fair play. What is amazing is that despite a difficult season for the team, the fans are always behind them.”
The Lyon boss formerly led Lille into the knockout stages of the Champions League, though les Dogues, who are top scorers in Ligue 1 to date this term, are threatening his current club for a place in next season’s edition of the competition.
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