Lyon’s Cris concedes title challenge is over

(GSM) – Olympique Lyon’s veteran defender Cris has admitted that Lyon giants’ title ambitions are over for now, after their 2-1 defeat to Olympique Marseille in the weekend.

The seven times league champions suffered their sixth defeat of the season, which left them at sixth place and five points behind defending champions and Ligue 1 leaders Bordeaux, who also have a game in hand.

And, with just seven games left for Lyon, Cris knows their hopes of reclaiming their crown have gone up in smoke.

“I think it’s become complicated for the title,” he said. “Now, we are five points from the leaders who have played a games less.

“The title is complicated. Now we have to work to find third place.”

But coach Claude Puel was more cautious, although he admits Les Gones cannot afford any more slip ups.

“It wasn’t a good game and we wasted a lifeline, if we had one left still,” he said.

“There was the duty to bring back at least a point. But we lacked conviction, aggression and success with our shots.

“There are quite a few games remaining but they will all be very important now.”