Puel: Title is not out of reach

Lyon coach Claude Puel insists his third-placed side still have a chance in the Ligue 1 title race - if they believe in themselves.

OL were not in action at the weekend and will head into their game in hand - against Montpellier on Wednesday - seven points behind Lille after the leaders were held to a 1-1 draw at Lorient.

Second-placed Marseille can take over at the top if they beat Nice on Wednesday, but Puel does not think his team are out of it either.

Asked if the title was gone, he told Le Progres: ''No. It depends on us. It will require an unwavering strength of character. If we have this mindset, we can be champions.''

Les Gones slipped further off the pace eight days ago with a 1-0 defeat at Paris St Germain.

Puel reckons his side are a match for anyone in the French top flight but admits their cutting edge may have deserted them at key moments.

He added: ''When you see the match in Paris, one feels that we have potential. I have not seen a team in Ligue 1 who are greater than us. [But] if Marseille are not extraordinary in the game, they deliver at the crucial time - unlike us.''