Benoit Pedretti Won’t Rule Out Auxerre Champions League Progress

Auxerre midfielder Benoit Pedretti has refused to dismiss the prospect of AJA making progress in the Champions League, despite losing both of their opening matches in the group stage and starting their domestic season in wretched form.

The Stade Abbe-Deschamps side lost 1-0 against Girondins de Bordeaux on Saturday evening and must bounce back against Ajax on Tuesday if they are to possess a shred of hope with regards to their Champions League prospects.

“Everything remains possible,” he told L’Equipe. “If Real Madrid win their two games against Milan and we take four points against Ajax, the second qualifying spot could be decided against Milan at the Abbe-Deschamps.

“Of course we're not quite equipped to have a good [domestic] championship and a good Champions League! We would like to have been strengthened to have had more ambitions in both competitions.”

Presently, AJA lie 17th in Ligue 1, only outside the relegation spots on goal difference.