Lyon's Boumsong remains quietly confident
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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Despite needing to score at least once at Camp Nou next week Olympique Lyonnais centre-back Jean-Alain Boumsong is confident his team can edge out FC Barcelona away, stressing that "in football everything is possible".
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Olympique Lyonnais face a daunting date with FC Barcelona next Wednesday when the sides meet for a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at Camp Nou, but Les Gones defender Jean-Alain Boumsong is not cowed and claims "in football everything is possible".
Trading blows
Juninho Pernambucano gave Lyon an early first-leg lead at the Stade de Gerland with a trademark free-kick, an advantage which they held until midway through the second half when Boumsong's compatriot, Thierry Henry, levelled the tie. Perhaps a week earlier securing a draw against the Spanish giants would have been a satisfactory result for Lyon. However, after Barça's 22-game unbeaten run ended at home to RCD Espanyol the previous weekend, Boumsong had smelled blood and was frustrated not to draw it.
Mission possible
"Not really," Boumsong said when asked whether he happy with the outcome, "because we expected a better result. But I think we played maybe the best team in Europe." The 29-year-old is certain, though, that Lyon can still progress to the last eight. "We're not that happy but we still have a chance," he said, "even if it will be difficult to win in Barcelona. In football anything is possible. Now we have to score in Barcelona and we'll give our all to get a good result over there. Even if, as I've already said, it will be very difficult."
Aggressive approach
Barcelona are on a four-match winless run in all competitions, unknown territory for coach Josep Guardiola who took over at the beginning of the season. And Boumsong believes that opponents have learned how to counter the Catalans. "I think with a team like Barcelona, if you let them play, you will end up doing a lot of running," the French international said. "That's what we did in the second half [of the first leg] because they always had the ball, and we ran an awful lot. But in the first half we were a more aggressive and that's the way to play against Barcelona if you want to compete. But in the second half we were a little bit tired. They have a lot of quality and that's why they did better in the second half. Unfortunately we have to score in Barcelona. It's certainly possible but we also know that they have good players and can score at any moment. Yet it is still possible."
