Garde applauds Lyon´s second-half response

Lyon head coach Remi Garde has praised his side’s second half after their 1-1 draw with Vitoria Guimaraes in the UEFA Europa League.

The French side struggled in the opening stanza and suffered a setback just before half-time when Vitoria took the lead through Moussa Maazou.

Despite being disappointed by the result, Garde was pleased with his players’ response to his half-time team talk with Maxime Gonalons’ equaliser the reward for an improved effort.

“It was not a half-time to shake the walls and shout at the players – it was a half-time to comfort the team instead,” Garde said after Thursday’s match.

“I was glad to see my team give their all throughout the game and still trying to win in the dying moments.

”I can’t be a truly happy or satisfied coach when my team draw at home and it is not a great result.

“This is the only thing that will allow us to get out of this situation and end our run of bad form.”

Lyon has only won one of their past 10 matches and will attempt to improve their form with a trip to Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Sunday.