UNITED KINGDOM: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conference by Lille coach Claude Puel as his team trains ahead of their second leg Champions League match against Manchester United

Manchester United won the first leg 1-0 thanks to a Ryan Giggs free kick, which was taken while the French team were still preparing their defensive wall. Lille lodged a formal complaint to UEFA but their appeal was turned down. There were also crowd problems at the match in Lens last month, including the throwing of objects by Lille supporters and a crush caused by apparent overcrowding at the United end. Focussing on the sporting side of the tie, Lille coach Claude Puel said his players had shown good things ahead of the decisive match on Wednesday (March 7) at Old Trafford. "Since the first leg we have heard sir alex ferguson saying a lot of things putting a lot of pressure on. we know this is one of hs ways of doing things. but in France we are more interested in respect between teams and respect between the managers and i would just like to repeat that i am not interested in this polemic situation whatsoever. We are here to talk about the match we are here to play football so that's it," Puel told reporters on Tuesday (March 6) in Manchester. He added: "It's a little bit of a paradox to criticize the organization of Lille when Manchester's own fans were violent and were in possession of counterfeit tickets. The facts are there for everyone to see so its difficult to understand why its Lille's fault," Lille will rely on the striking force of Kader Keita and Stephane Dumont, who both scored a twice in their 4-0 league win over Troyes last Saturday. They will be without playmaker Mathieu Bodmer and promising midfielder Yohan Cabaye sidelined by ankle and a stomach injuries respectively.

ITN Source | March 7, 2007

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