The manager of Olympique Lyonnais, Rudi Garcia, has said that he is not giving up on Champions League qualification.

Speaking ahead of their game against high-flying Reims, which will hold behind closed doors tonight, the former Roma coach said all the games they are playing are important as they aim to catch up with the top four teams on the log.

Garcia’s men were on the losing side against LOSC Lille away from home last weekend. Loïc Rémy’s solitary strike against his old club left the Champions League Round of 16 hopefuls in the seventh place on the log. Lyon is currently a point behind Reims and 10 points behind Rennes occupying the third place.

With ten games left in the Ligue 1, he noted that Champions League qualification is a tall order.

With Garcia not giving up the hunt, said his team can still qualify because it is mathematically possible.

On the deadly coronavirus that had forced all of the Ligue 1 fixtures to be played behind closed doors, Garcia noted that football is not a kind of sport to be played behind closed doors.

Speaking ahead of the preparation of his team for the clashes at hand, he said that there would be a training session inside the Groupama Stadium, adding that Reims is not a training game ahead of Juventus clash.

Speaking on the closed-door arrangement, the coach pointed out that closed doors is an advantage for the away team anyway and Lyon has to prove that wrong when they face each other tonight.

Speaking on the available players for the clash, Garcia said Marçal is fit to play while a late decisoon will be made on Moussa Dembélé, Houssem Aouar, Jason Denayer and Léo Dubois.

On the clas against Reims, Parker further said that they are a tough team to play, having taken points against all the big clubs.

He further noted that they’re fast, courageous, well organised and solid.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed