Jean II Makoun has given his backing to Lyon coach Claude Puel as they bid for a victory at Lille tomorrow.

Lyon were held in all three league games last month, surrendering the initiative in the Ligue 1 title race as they fell two points behind Bordeaux.

That has led to some criticism for boss Puel, but midfielder Makoun is firmly behind his coach.

"When things aren't going well, people like to criticise an individual," he told the league's official website.

"But Puel has never taken a player to one side and told them not to attack.

"His ideas place an emphasis on the team so that we can best express our qualities. Our squad tries to win every match and we don't know how to play for a 0-0."

Makoun followed Puel in joining Lyon from Lille last year, and both will be come face-to-face with old friends at the Stadium Lille Metropole tomorrow.

Brazilian Michel Bastos made the move from Lille to Lyon this summer.

Lille have struggled this season, with coach Rudi Garcia keeping them behind in Spain for extra training after the 3-1 Europa League loss to Valencia.

In the league, they sit a disappointing 13th, but that is still the highest they have been all season.

"Europe is at the back of our minds now and we have to focus on Ligue 1 football," said defender Aurelien Chedjou.

"We have to give everything in the championship and challenge ourselves to make up for our European disappointment. There's no point lamenting what happened to us in Spain as that match is finished and now it's the turn of LOSC-OL."

Defender Nicolas Plestan (groin), midfielder Stéphane Dumont (abdominal strain), and forward Emil Lyng (groin) will all miss the fixture through injury.