10.03.2009 19:24
Puel optimistic on Benzema
Berta Brau
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Lyon coach Claude Puel and defender Boumsong were confident the French champions can come out on top of what they described as “a great event”.
The French striker is carrying a hip problem and will remain doubtful until the last moment. Claude
Puel told us: “He’s OK, he receiving treatment and is training with the rest of the
squad. The truth is that we’re optimistic about his chances of playing”.
Repeat of first half performance
Apart from the doubts surrounding Benzema, Puel is hoping his team will
find the same form they showed in the first half of the first leg in Lyon: “In Gerland we
showed we can shake up Barça. In this match, we have to be more competitive physically while being
careful with the tactical and technical aspects”.
The match of the year for Lyon
French central defender Boumsong revealed: “It’s the most important match of the
season so far. It’ll be the match of the year”. His coach agreed: “It’ll be
a great event”, while hinting that there could be more to come.
“We’re not afraid”
Boumsong was adamant that his team can go through: “We’re
not afraid. We’re ready to fight for it; otherwise it would have been better not to
come”. However, he admitted that “it’ll be a difficult match” and stressed
that the Lyon players would have to pull out all the stops.
An open game
Boumsong told reporters: “Barça is playing the best football in the world, a short
passing game with top quality players”. The antidote is “to play aggressively, but that
doesn’t mean violently, keep our lines close together and above all help each other so that
each player covers the weaknesses of the others”.