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Houllier delighted but Lyon party on hold
PARIS (AFP) - Lyon coach Gerard Houllier was celebrating his side's six-in-a-row French league title achievement on Wednesday despite being held to a goalless draw by midtable Rennes.
To be mathematically certain of being crowned champions again Houllier's side needed a win.
But the draw nevertheless as good as clinched it for the champions as they now have an 18-point advantage on second-placed Toulouse with six games to play.
"I'm sorry that we didn't finish with a win, but for me this point is the title point. We're the champions," said Houllier, who also lead Lyon to last year's crown.
Houllier's side would have to lose all six remaining games and Toulouse to win them by big margins to cause an upset.
But instead of partying with their fans at their Gerland Stadium his team settled for a dour draw which drew whistles from the crowd at half time.
Lyon largely dominated but lacked the conviction to tackle the Brittany defence despite the isolated efforts of Czech striker Milan Baros.
There were few real efforts on goal apart from a freekick from substitute Kim Kallstrom after 76 minutes diverted out by Rennes goalie Simon Pouplin.
Lyon's failure to wrap up the title in style follows a difficult second half of the season after their runaway success before the winter break.
"It was a problem of freshness and notably concerning the internationals and the World Cup," insisted the Lyon boss.
"There's a little bit of mental weariness. We have 70 points and to be champions is a way of rewarding the players' efforts particularly in the first half of the season.
"We didn't put enough spark into this match but what is difficult is hearing the whistles when this match clinched the title.
"I don't understand the disappointment of the crowd. They don't seem to remember that we also played on Sunday. The public and the media discredit the title but this sixth title is a fabulous exploit. What we achieved early in the season deserves to be highlighted."
Houllier added: "I hope that next year we will be champions again by the same margin."
A sixth consecutive title for Lyon would be the first time that a French side has achieved such a feat in a championship that dates back to 1932.
Last year nearly to the day, they became the first side to win five times in succession.
Marseille did win five in a row from 1989-93, but the final championship win was later cancelled after the corruption/bribing scandal that engulfed the club concerning a match against Valenciennes
The only other side to win four in a row was the great St Etienne side under Robert Herbin from 1967-1970.
Meanwhile Rennes, sitting ninth, still have the incentive of finishing the season well and grabbing a qualifying spot for one of the European club competitions as they sit five points off third-placed Lens.
In Wednesday's second tie, Bordeaux kept their hopes of playing Champions League football next season very much alive as they crushed struggling Nancy 3-0 at their Chaban-Delmas Stadium.
A first half double from Marouane Chamakh after 18 and 43 minutes put Bordeaux on their way with Argentine Fernando Cavenaghi claiming their third after 54 mintues.
Bordeaux, who had only scored one goal in their previous three matches, are now just one point behind Lens who they host after a visit to Saint-Etienne.
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