Lyonnais vs Evian Thonon Gaillard preview - Fournier realistic about title race

Posted Friday, May 01, 2015 by PA

Lyon boss Hubert Fournier accepts that title ambitions are out of his team's control as the Ligue 1 season nears its conclusion.

Lyon are three points behind leaders and championship favourites Paris St Germain with just four games left.

And although PSG's nearest challengers should encounter few problems at home against lowly Evian on Saturday, silverware looks likely to elude them.

"We are no longer masters of our own destiny," Fournier told his club's website.

"But we have to do our best, right to the end, and pick up as many points as possible.

"That way, if Paris slip up, we won't have any regrets about not pushing them all the way.

"They (PSG) lost to Bastia, and they have two potentially tricky away games. We have to do the necessary to take advantage of it if they do drop points.

"We have the potential, and the players want to fulfil the expectations of the supporters."

PSG head to Nantes on Sunday, but Lyon should at least be level on points with them by then, going into the Evian encounter as red-hot favourites, especially giving Evian's battle to avoid relegation.

But Fournier added: "They are never an easy side to play against.

"Recent history has shown they know how to lift late in the season to get the points they need, especially as they are a side that is often better away from home."

Evian currently occupy 18th place in the table, seven points above Metz in 19th and one point behind Reims.