Lyon 'in sixth heaven' after historic French league title

By Siegfried Mortkowitz Apr 22, 2007, 15:44 GMT

Paris - Olympique Lyon made French football history without playing on Saturday night, claiming a sixth straight national title in unprecedented speed.

But despite the success coach Gerard Houllier demanded 'guarantees' from club president Jean-Michel Aulas that he can work in peace without intereference next season.

Houllier and his OL players watched via television in a hotel in Auxerre, where they were due to play later Sunday, as the nearest rivals Toulouse crashed 3-2 at Rennes to assure them of yet another league crown.

Lyon clinched the trophy five rounds ahead of the end of the season, the earliest title decision in league history.

The sixth successive title also ended a debate with Olympique Marseille about the most successful team. OM lifted the trophy five years in a row 1989-1993, but were stripped of the last one over a match-fixing scheme.

'It is incredible to have won a sixth title. It marks club history as well as French league history,' said Lyon's Brazilian team captain Juninho.

French sports daily L'Equipe on Sunday ran the front page headline 'Lyon in sixth heaven,' naming them 'great and worthy champions.'

Lyon have ruled the Ligue 1 since 2002, but some question marks remain.

Houllier's team built a massive league by picking up 49 out of 54 points in the first 19 games, losing just once in the period, in Toulouse, for a 15-point lead.

But then followed a dry spell of five games without victory in Jaunary and early February. In addition, they have won just once in their last three games.

The European campaign was derailed earlier than planned, with Lyon crashing out in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Roma. That after making the quarter-finals in the past three years and being considered a title contender this time around.

Improvement is needed, especially up front even though Lyon have scored a league-leading 55 goals from 32 games.

A look at the other big leagues underlines this, with Barcelona on 60 goals from 30 matches in Spain, English leaders Manchester United on 78 goals from 34 matches, and Italian frontrunners Inter Milan on 66 goals from 32 matches.

Lyon's top striker Fred has 10 goals and Czech Milan Baros has not made a full impact yet since a winter hiring from Aston Villa.

There is also concern that top players are lured to the stronger leagues in England, Italy and Spain, such as Michael Essien and Mahamadou Diarra were in the past years.

Now Eric Abidal and Florent Malouda are said to be toying with a transfer.

Houllier told RTL television he was 'surprised to see people becoming picky' and insisting that his players 'fought hard' for the title.

He also said that he wanted 'guarantees' from Aulas in order to fulfil his contract until 2008, saying there was too much interference from various sides over the season.

Aulas, for his part, told Canal Plus TV that he will next week meet with Houllier, whom he named 'indispensable for Olympique Lyon.'

But Aulas also pointed out that 'it is a guarantee if you are at a club with a budget of 180 to 200 million euros and can train 20 internationals.'