Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas insists manager Claude Puel has his full support despite the team slumping to ninth place in Ligue 1.

Puel's side were beaten 1-0 at home by leaders Bordeaux yesterday and have won just once in their last eight league matches. They have three games remaining before the Christmas break, beginning with Wednesday's clash against Boulogne.

Aulas has pledged to keep faith with Puel at least for the remainder of the current campaign. He said, according to L'Equipe: "The players need confidence, the club needs calm. Claude is an excellent coach. Obviously there will be no changes to the organisation before the end of the season.

The players need confidence, the club needs calm. Claude is an excellent coach.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas

"I'm here to show the players that there is no panic. There is no problem among the players, no problem between the players and the coach, no problem between the coach and president. We have to reposition ourselves in the context of a long-course pursuit. We will close ranks behind Claude Puel. This defeat is not the end of the world."

With Puel coming under increasing pressure, the support of the president could serve to ease some of the strain he has faced, which has manifested in calls from some quarters for a new team boss to be installed. Puel has admitted Lyon's form has not been "to the standard of what we expect", but Aulas has called for supporters to back the manager as the team attempt to climb back into title contention.

"I told the players after the match that the important thing is to be supportive when the results don't go according to what we hope for," Aulas said. "I haven't appreciated the reaction of certain areas of the ground at the end of the match. We have to respect the opponents. Bordeaux were very good."