Perrin finds room for improvement

Alain Perrin was nonplussed by a 3-1 win against AS Monaco FC saying Olympique Lyonnais would "have to pull ourselves together in defence" when they take on VfB Stuttgart in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Perrin unimpressed
Saturday's victory saw the French champions hold on to top spot in Ligue 1, with a 12th-minute Juninho Pernambucano penalty and strikes from Anthony Réveillère and Karim Benzema doing the damage. Perrin, though, was not impressed. "We were good in attack but we'll have to pull ourselves together in defense against Stuttgart," he said. "We could have gone behind at the start of the game."

Worrying sign
With Lyon having lost both of their opening UEFA Champions League Group E games 3-0 – their worst results home and away in the group stage – Tuesday's game against the German champions is a huge concern for Perrin. "We showed a lack of aggression in defense which reminded me of our [3-0 defeat at home against] Rangers [FC on Matchday 2]," he said. "We conceded another goal from a set piece. Such things can easily turn a game."

Stuttgart game
Former Monaco defender Sébastien Squillaci was slightly more positive. "After a stuttering start we played consistently as a team," he said. "We gave a lot but were rewarded. It will be important to have a rest before playing Stuttgart." Perrin, meanwhile, conceded that "confidence has been accumulating" since the Rangers game but underlined the importance of Tuesday's tie, saying: "It is important to get ahead of Stuttgart."