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Claude Puel Hails Olympique Lyonnais' Character After Racing Club de Lens Win
Back at the summit of Le Championnat for the first time in six months, OL's gritty determination is a key element of their recent success according to their general manager...
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Oct 5, 2009 3:35:33 PM
Olympique Lyonnais moved top of Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory over Racing Club de Lens on Saturday evening, prompting general manager Claude Puel to praise his side's character.
Lyon went into the game short of some key attacking talent and also on the back of a Champions League trip to Hungary, where they beat Debrecen 4-0. Nevertheless, an early Sidney Govou strike coupled with a belated effort from Kim Kallstrom proved sufficient to claim a 2-0 victory in Pas-de-Calais.
Worries had been voiced about the team’s level of fatigue, but they shrugged this off impressively, much to Puel’s pleasure.
“We opened the scoring very, very quickly,” Puel smiled after the game, according to Ligue 1’s official website. “We were ready, despite Lens being very determined. Each team that plays against Lyon ups their game. Even though we're tired, we handled it well. We have had a positive dynamic since the start of the season, and we have to build on it. We remain focused on our ambition of winning every match.”
Meanwhile, Jean-Guy Wallemme, head coach of the hosts, admitted that his side had been outplayed. “Lyon were better than us,” he conceded. “We thought that they would be tired. But the boys that played in the Champions League held on until the end.
“Overall, there were some positive things from us - the team spirit for one. The most important thing is to reproduce that sort of performance against teams that are within our reach.”
It was a fine weekend for Lyon, who watched title rivals Olympique de Marseille and Girondins de Bordeaux both slump to defeats. OL now lead Ligue 1 by one point and are Le Championnat’s only unbeaten side.
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
Lyon went into the game short of some key attacking talent and also on the back of a Champions League trip to Hungary, where they beat Debrecen 4-0. Nevertheless, an early Sidney Govou strike coupled with a belated effort from Kim Kallstrom proved sufficient to claim a 2-0 victory in Pas-de-Calais.
Worries had been voiced about the team’s level of fatigue, but they shrugged this off impressively, much to Puel’s pleasure.
“We opened the scoring very, very quickly,” Puel smiled after the game, according to Ligue 1’s official website. “We were ready, despite Lens being very determined. Each team that plays against Lyon ups their game. Even though we're tired, we handled it well. We have had a positive dynamic since the start of the season, and we have to build on it. We remain focused on our ambition of winning every match.”
Meanwhile, Jean-Guy Wallemme, head coach of the hosts, admitted that his side had been outplayed. “Lyon were better than us,” he conceded. “We thought that they would be tired. But the boys that played in the Champions League held on until the end.
“Overall, there were some positive things from us - the team spirit for one. The most important thing is to reproduce that sort of performance against teams that are within our reach.”
It was a fine weekend for Lyon, who watched title rivals Olympique de Marseille and Girondins de Bordeaux both slump to defeats. OL now lead Ligue 1 by one point and are Le Championnat’s only unbeaten side.
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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