Lyonnais vs Ajaccio GFCO - Lyon boss Bruno Genesio not seeking revenge against Ajaccio

Posted Friday, April 29, 2016 by PA

Bruno Genesio insists there is no Lyon revenge mission against Ajaccio in their Ligue 1 reunion on Saturday night.

Champions League-chasing Lyon are expected to make short work of relegation-threatened Ajaccio, but the Corsicans won the first meeting between the two clubs this season.

"If we say that on paper it won't be a contest, then we could end up very disappointed," Lyon coach Genesio said at his pre-match press conference.

"We need to prepare well and respect our opponents, who have a lot of fight in them and who have turned things around after a tough start to the season.

"We lost in the first match against them this season. But it's not about revenge for us; we have a greater objective that goes beyond this one match.

"We need the win. It's another hurdle to get over.

"We expect to have more of the ball and to be faced with a packed defence looking to hit us on the counter. We've been working on destabilising opponents but also on transitions."

Genesio has welcomed interest in Alexandre Lacazette, but he insists that the France forward is best served shunning the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham and staying at a club where he has scored 69 goals in 170 league games.

"It's always great when big clubs are interested in your players," said Genesio.

"There will be a lot of rumours and whispers and disinformation.

"The right choice? That he stays at OL (Olympique Lyonnais), especially if we finish second.

"I'm not surprised by what is coming out in the press. But we have to stay focused on our common aim."

Second-placed Lyon are currently in a dogfight for a Champions League place with three games of the season remaining.

They are tied on 59 points with Monaco - the sides play in Lyon next weekend - and two ahead of St Etienne and Nice with Lille a further four back.

Ajaccio beat Lyon 2-1 in December and boosted their survival hopes last weekend.

They moved out of the bottom three for the first time since February with a 3-2 win against Bastia in the Corsican derby.

Thierry Laurey's side are one point above Reims, who fill the last relegation spot, and finish their season at home to champions Paris St Germain and away to Lorient on the final day.

"This is no risk for us," Laurey told the official club's website.

"We will play the three big games that remain as cup matches."

Nabil Fekir's return means only the injured Steed Malbranque is absent from the Lyon squad and Genesio could recall winger Maxwel Cornet after suspension.

Ajaccio pair Mohamed Larbi and Jeremie Brechet have been ruled out for the rest of the season and Jerome Le Moigne is suspended, but defender Roderic Filippi is available after serving a one-match ban.