There is more to Real than Ronaldo-Puel

(GSM) – Olympique Lyon boss Claude Puel will not single out Cristiano Ronaldo as the only threat to his side.

Lyon meets Real Madrid on Tuesday evening in the first leg of the eight finals, a stage at which Real have been unable to progress past in the last five consecutive seasons.

Puel said there’s more to Real than just Ronaldo, insisting that there a number of players that can influence proceedings.

“I choose not to focus only on Ronaldo, because there are more players who can make a difference,” Puel told Marca.

“Karim Benzema, if he plays, Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain, there is so much potential that we cannot mark one individual.”

The French coach also commented on the return of former hero Benzema. Puel admitted he hoped that the striker is given the opportunity to play against his former teammates.

“For him it would be nice to return to Lyon and we would like to see him here. I think he is progressing. It was important for him to leave Lyon to continue to grow.

“He has went to a place full of personalities and will have to fight for a place in the team. That is new for him.”

Puel reckons that the first match will not determine the outcome of the tie. He hopes his side can establish a good result in the first leg to create an advantage for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I think that we need to give ourselves options after the first leg. We will not give up, and we will create chances both in Lyon and Madrid,” the 48-year-old coach concluded.