Olympique Lyonnais Manager Claude Puel Thankful For Point Against PSG
OL’s general manager was relieved that his side scored late on to secure a point against les Parisiens, heaping praise on goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the process…
Sep 21, 2009 10:01:50 AM
Related Links
Teams
Players
Olympique Lyonnais seemed destined to crash to their first defeat of the Ligue 1 campaign on Sunday evening as they trailed a stubborn Paris Saint-Germain side 1-0 late on, but les Gones’ late equaliser pleased general manager Claude Puel, who was delighted his side snatched a late point.
Ludovic Giuly had tapped PSG ahead in the first half, deviating Guillaume Hoarau’s mis-hit shot into the net from close range. In truth, the home team had looked pretty comfortable repelling the waves of Lyon attacks thereafter. But les Parisiens cracked in the closing minutes, allowing Bafetimbi Gomis to force the ball in from a similarly short distance, though the former Saint-Etienne man looked to be offside.
“Given the configuration of the game, it is a very good point,” Puel mused to the AFP news agency after the fixture.
“For us, it was important to keep a good momentum and avoid defeat.”
One man who particularly pleased the former Lille boss was goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who made a series of fine saves to deny the hosts.
“We did not let go - Hugo made saves from several attempts, which allowed us to stay within reach of Paris and be more dominant in the second half," said Puel.
“PSG left the ball but are very good at countering. When they are ahead in the score, they are difficult to move - hence the merit in us coming back. It’s a credit to the whole squad, including the contribution of the substitutes, who brought freshness and allowed us to take the ascendancy on this team,” he added.
The drawn game leaves OL second in the standings, two points behind champions Girondins de Bordeaux, who have only dropped a couple of points in their six games so far this season.
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
- Auxerre 2-0 Monaco: Burgundy Outfit Go Top Of Ligue 1
- Ligue 1 Round-Up: Valenciennes End Bordeaux’s Unbeaten Home Run, Grenoble Draw With Lyon
- Patrice Evra Is Glad Thierry Henry Didn't Come Clean During The Match Against Ireland
- Olympique Lyonnais Must Take Struggling Grenoble Seriously – Claude Puel
- Bordeaux Tackle Valenciennes Without Injured Yoann Gourcuff
- Olympique de Marseille Coach Didier Deschamps Savours Win Over Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1 Preview: Montpellier – Lille
- Ballon d'Or Worldview: Who Will Win The Golden Ball 2009?
- Athletic Bilbao's Andoni Iraola Defends The 'Hand Of Henry'
- France Striker Thierry Henry Defended By Tennis Star Pal Roger Federer
- Top 10 Most Controversial World Cup Games
- Egypt Issue FIFA Complaint Against Algeria, Threaten International Withdrawl
- Fabio Cannavaro: Thierry Henry Should Have Had The Decency Not To Celebrate
- FAI Chief John Delaney Demands Ireland's Match With France Be Replayed
- France Captain Thierry Henry: I Handled The Ball Against Ireland, But It Was A ‘Great Moment’
- FAI Chief John Delaney Demands Ireland's Match With France Be Replayed
360 - Fabio Cannavaro: Thierry Henry Should Have Had The Decency Not To Celebrate
320 - Top 10 Most Controversial World Cup Games
259 - Thierry Henry: A Replay Would Be Fair For Ireland And France
257 - France Captain Thierry Henry: I Handled The Ball Against Ireland, But It Was A ‘Great Moment’
209
