Trying to revive his career at Nice, defender Francois Clerc can't wait to play against his former Lyon teammates when the clubs face off in the French league on Sunday.
But Clerc says he still holds a grudge against Lyon coach Claude Puel, who he blames for lingering knee injuries.
"I hold it against Puel because in March and December 2009, I returned to competition even though I was not ready," Clerc said. "You can easily find a better psychologist than Puel."
A former France international, Clerc signed a two-year contract with Nice in September after three months of uncertainty about his future.
Clerc played only 16 league games in his last two seasons for Lyon due to injuries.
"The past season was a nightmare. I was stopping, returning, coming back again," said Clerc, who is also ruing the way he was treated when he left the club, which he joined as a youth player before becoming a first-team regular in 2006.
"I would have loved to say goodbye," said Clerc, who didn't play during the second half of last season. "I'm still a bit bitter. You leave on a false note and it spoils 11 great years during which you enjoyed yourself."
Clerc, who spent the offseason training with a fitness coach before signing with Nice, is also worried by Lyon's poor form.
Lyon has won nothing since Puel took over from Alain Perrin, who led Lyon to the league and French Cup double in the 2007-08 season - the last of Lyon's seven consecutive league titles.
Following a poor start to the season, Lyon is 11th in the French league standings with 16 points after losing four of its 12 games so far. Puel's future remains uncertain despite claims from club president Jean-Michel Aulas he will keep his job until the end of the season.
The club has shown a better face in European competition but was handed its first Champions League defeat at Benfica last week.
"What's really worrying me is that they have been playing poorly for two seasons now," Clerc said. "How many very good matches did Lyon play? Not so many. Given the players they have, the quality should be far better."
Promoted Brest, which hosts Sochaux on Saturday, tops the league standings with 21 points ahead of Rennes, which has 20.
Following its first home win over defending champion Marseille last weekend, Paris Saint-Germain is third with 19 points, one more than its better rival.
"This league in which no team is dominating is good for us," said Lyon and France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. "Otherwise, we would have already lost hope of winning the title. But in this situation, everything is still possible."
PSG extended its unbeaten run in all competition to five matches with a 3-1 win at Valenciennes in Wednesday's League Cup quarterfinals and will travel to Lorient with full confidence.
Marseille recovered from its defeat at the Parc des Princes with a 2-1 League Cup win over Monaco, with defender Cesar Azpilicueta finally living up to expectations after joining the club from Osasuna during the offseason. Azpilicueta scored the winner and silenced striker Chris Malonga with a fine display that pleased coach Didier Deschamps.
"We lost a game in Paris because we didn't perform well enough," Deschamps said. "We needed to get rid of that disappointment and we managed it. The winning culture needs to be worked on a daily basis. We need to keep this spirit up."
Marseille midfielder Benoit Cheyrou is doubtful for Saturday's match against struggling Lens after picking up a groin injury against Monaco.
On Saturday, it's also: Bordeaux vs. Nancy, Monaco vs. Arles, Montpellier vs. Toulouse, Valenciennes vs. Saint-Etienne and Caen vs. Lille. Rennes visits Auxerre in Sunday's other match.
Languishing in the relegation zone, Monaco will be without forward Park Chu-young for three weeks after the South Korean player traveled to China to represent his country in the Asian Games.
Monaco claimed only its second win of the season last weekend with a 4-0 victory over Nancy, with Park scoring twice.
