Garde wants Lyon to finish well

Lyon manager Remi Garde has admitted his side have not been at their best this year, but is hopeful they can finish the season strongly.

The former champions have struggled for consistency this term but currently find themselves in third position in Ligue 1, battling with Saint Etienne for the final UEFA Champions League place.

Two points is all that separates Lyon in third from their fierce rivals in fourth and Garde admits that the season has not gone as he had planned, but he is focused on maintaining their top-three place by the end of the campaign.

“It is not a secret. Lyon 2013 is not Lyon 2012,” he said. “But we are still working
on our objectives. We want to be on the podium at the end of the season.

“We have
to continue in this way and get good result in Nancy.”

Lyon know that victory over 16th placed Nancy on Sunday will not only see them maintain their lead over the sides below but also keep them in touch with second-placed Marseille and Garde is determined to bounce back from last week’s draw with Saint Etienne.

“We don’t have an objective of points,” he continued. “We are concentrating on each game.
This game against Nancy is very important.

“We want to get back the points that
we lost last weekend in the derby (against Saint-Etienne).

“This Nancy team have
shown another side in 2013 compared to 2012. It will not be easy but we will
continue with this spirit.”

One area of concern for the 47-year-old was the playing surface at Stade Marcel-Picot, which since 2010 has been artificial as opposed to natural grass.

Garde is not a fan of the plastic pitch and believes that the French authorities should make sure all teams play on natural surfaces rather than synthetic to make it fairer on all clubs involved.

“I am not in favour of this type of surface because I think
that football should be played on grass,” he added.

“Now, if the rules allow clubs to
install this sort of surface, they can take advantage of it but I think we
should play on the grass and switching grass to a synthetic is not good for
anyone.”