Tuesday 20 December, 2005

"I was happy about a few things in this match. Two or three players surprised me and I'm pleased with their performances. I'm thinking about [Arnold] Mvuemba, [Jimmy] Briand, [Laszlo] Sepsi and [Grégory] Bourillon."

- Rennes Coach Laszlo Boloni somehow finds a silver lining to the club's 5-1 hammering at the hands of lesser Greek outfit PAOK Salonika

- Paris Saint-Germain defender Bernard Mendy says the players are behind under-fire Coach Laurent Fournier. So why were they so awful in the 1-1 draw?

- PSG President Pierre Blayau plays up the woeful Ajaccio match; a week after criticising Laurent Fournier following an encouraging win over Rennes.

"For us, things aren't clear. I just don't understand. It doesn't make any sense that we've arrived at this point. Some people are able to put this into context - I can't. In six years at PSG I've seen a few things, but obviously I hadn't seen everything."

- Goalkeeper Lionel Letizi isn't the only one not sure what Blayau is up to.

"He's not for sale, neither in January nor in June. If it happens, it won't be with my agreement. You can't sell your best players and hope to have a good team."

- Marseille sporting director José Anigo rules out selling in-form playmaker Franck Ribéry as interest grows around the continent...

- ...Only for Marseille President Pape Diouf to declare the club open to offers.

"There was no problem with the refereeing. In the end, it's our fault. [Blaming the referee] would be the same as hiding behind a tree."

- Turning a new leaf, Lyon boss Gérard Houllier also refuses to blame David Ginola after his team lost their unbeaten record to Lille.

"Referees need to stop trying to attract attention because the players will always be the stars. Mr. Duhamel also annoyed me during our match against Marseille. Referees can make mistakes, they just can't keep doing it on a one-sided basis."

- Unfortunately, his President Jean-Michel Aulas will probably always be an irritating piece of work.