Cornet aims to make Ligue 1 mark after catching Guardiola’s eye

PARIS: Lyon striker Maxwel Cornet is riding a wave of praise, including compliments from Pepe Guardiola, as he prepares for his first Ligue 1 start of the season at Lille today.

Ivorian Cornet gave an eye-catching display against Guardiola’s Manchester City, twice put Lyon in front as in a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Groupama Stadium on Tuesday.

His first was a stunning left-footed curler that had his side ahead 10 minutes after the break.

Guardiola said that he was “very impressed” with Cornet after the 22-year-old’s man-of-the-match display, which came in just his second start of the season.

His other was at the Etihad in September when he opened the scoring in a shock 2-1 win – Lyon’s only victory in a frustrating group stage for Bruno Genesio’s team – and the two displays against the English Premier League leaders have led to reports of a summer bid for the up-and-coming attacker.

“It’s very flattering to hear or read such comments from one of best coaches in the world,” said Cornet.

Cornet is yet to begin a Ligue 1 match this season and had been close to moving to Wolfsburg in the summer.

He stayed because Nicolas Pepe refused the move south to Lyon from today’s opponents.

However his performance on Tuesday has led to reports of an incoming contract extension and a start at Lille, who are among a host of clubs battling Lyon for a place in next season’s Champions League.

“I’m good at Lyon, it’s a great club. I’ve met the management and we’ll see how its goes,” he said.

“I’m confident, the most important thing is to play, it’s up to me to demonstrate on a daily basis.”

Lyon’s excellent display means they just need a point at Shakhtar Donetsk in two week’s time.

It came in a good Champions League week for French football, with runaway domestic leaders Paris St Germain beating Liverpool on Wednesday to put qualification for the last 16 in their own hands.

Lyon travel to Lille in second in Ligue 1 looking to build on last week’s derby win over St Etienne but without any realistic hope of stopping PSG rampaging to the league title.

A whopping 15-point gap separates Lyon from PSG, who take a 100% league record to mid-table Bordeaux tomorrow.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are looking for their 15th straight Ligue 1 win after scoring 46 goals in their previous 14 matches and while Bordeaux have the tightest defence in the bottom half of the league are struggling for goals.

Now PSG are gunning for the European success that their Qatari owners have been investing towards to add to their domestic dominance, all but assured following their incredible start to the campaign.

“I hope so (that PSG can get into the latter stages of the Champions League). It is very important to go through this experience together to create a special atmosphere for the weeks ahead,” Tuchel said after Wednesday’s win. — AFP