PARIS, July 26 (Reuters) - May the best team win -- as long as it is not Olympique Lyon -- is the not so secret refrain from almost everyone in the world of French soccer who does not support the club.
With the new French Ligue 1 season opening on on August 4, it seems few, if any of their rivals, actually have the capacity to prevent Lyon winning the title for the seventh successive season.
The French league kings have, of course, no intention of relaxing their grip on the title they have held since 2002, even if they have allowed players such as Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Tiago (Juventus) and Alou Diarra (Auxerre) to leave.
"Our aim will be to do better than last season," chairman Jean-Michel Aulas warned his rivals repeating nearly word for word what he said this time last year.
Lyon performed a feat not even Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United or Bayern Munich have achieved when they were crowned champions again in the spring.
In fact no other club in any of the major European soccer nations have ever matched that six-in-a-row record.
They were crowned with five games to spare and ended the season with 81 points from 24 wins, nine draws and five defeats, -- and with a 17-point lead over runners-up Olympique Marseille.
To do better, they will have to beat the record of 26 victories shared by Reims, AS Monaco and Nantes.
Nantes were the last team to win the title, in 2001, before Lyon's stranglehold began -- but that success is fast fading into history and an illustration of how long ago it was is that Nantes will start the new season in Ligue 2 after being relegated last season.
Such is Lyon's domination now that the last French championship ended with some commentators lamenting the lack of interest of a competition deprived of suspense.
The team who might give them a run for their money are Olympique Marseille. The 1993 European champions have not won a major trophy in 14 years but secured a Champions League group stage berth with an end-of-the season flourish.
Surprisingly, they sold their star player Franck Ribery to Bayern Munich. They also signed France striker Djibril Cisse, Dutch winger Boudewijn Zenden, Algeria midfielder Karim Ziani and France international central defender Gael Givet.
"I am very hopeful because our new signings are talented players who have proved their worth. I think our squad will be stronger than last year," said coach Albert Emon.
Chairman Pape Diouf is more cautious. "I heard some people saying that we were the favourites for the title but we must not be over-hasty. Lyon still are the true favourite," he said.
However, Lyon's other traditional rivals do not look likely to mount a serious challenge this season.
Girondins Bordeaux could not stop France's hopefuls Julien Faubert and Rio Mavuba from moving to West Ham United and Villareal.
They will also start the new season under the guidance of Laurent Blanc who was a member of the France's squad that won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European championship but has no previous coaching experience.
Paris St Germain, who just escaped relegation with a late rally, are still recovering from a nightmare season. "We must take our time to rebuild a team and find some new ambitions," said chairman Alain Cayzac.
Reuters
With the new French Ligue 1 season opening on on August 4, it seems few, if any of their rivals, actually have the capacity to prevent Lyon winning the title for the seventh successive season.
The French league kings have, of course, no intention of relaxing their grip on the title they have held since 2002, even if they have allowed players such as Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Tiago (Juventus) and Alou Diarra (Auxerre) to leave.
"Our aim will be to do better than last season," chairman Jean-Michel Aulas warned his rivals repeating nearly word for word what he said this time last year.
Lyon performed a feat not even Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United or Bayern Munich have achieved when they were crowned champions again in the spring.
In fact no other club in any of the major European soccer nations have ever matched that six-in-a-row record.
They were crowned with five games to spare and ended the season with 81 points from 24 wins, nine draws and five defeats, -- and with a 17-point lead over runners-up Olympique Marseille.
To do better, they will have to beat the record of 26 victories shared by Reims, AS Monaco and Nantes.
Nantes were the last team to win the title, in 2001, before Lyon's stranglehold began -- but that success is fast fading into history and an illustration of how long ago it was is that Nantes will start the new season in Ligue 2 after being relegated last season.
Such is Lyon's domination now that the last French championship ended with some commentators lamenting the lack of interest of a competition deprived of suspense.
The team who might give them a run for their money are Olympique Marseille. The 1993 European champions have not won a major trophy in 14 years but secured a Champions League group stage berth with an end-of-the season flourish.
Surprisingly, they sold their star player Franck Ribery to Bayern Munich. They also signed France striker Djibril Cisse, Dutch winger Boudewijn Zenden, Algeria midfielder Karim Ziani and France international central defender Gael Givet.
"I am very hopeful because our new signings are talented players who have proved their worth. I think our squad will be stronger than last year," said coach Albert Emon.
Chairman Pape Diouf is more cautious. "I heard some people saying that we were the favourites for the title but we must not be over-hasty. Lyon still are the true favourite," he said.
However, Lyon's other traditional rivals do not look likely to mount a serious challenge this season.
Girondins Bordeaux could not stop France's hopefuls Julien Faubert and Rio Mavuba from moving to West Ham United and Villareal.
They will also start the new season under the guidance of Laurent Blanc who was a member of the France's squad that won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European championship but has no previous coaching experience.
Paris St Germain, who just escaped relegation with a late rally, are still recovering from a nightmare season. "We must take our time to rebuild a team and find some new ambitions," said chairman Alain Cayzac.
Reuters
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