Carew remains optimistic

John Carew believes Lyon can win the UEFA Champions League.

The French champions have been tipped as dark horses to win Europe's premier competition after impressing in the group stages.

Lyon take on PSV Eindhoven in the last 16 next week and even though they have struggled domestically in recent weeks Carew believes they can go the whole way in the Champions League.

"Lyon has a very strong and united group. It is probably the number one asset of the team," Carew told L'Equipe.

"The coach is part of that solidarity. It is not by chance if a team often wins during the last minutes of a match. That is just mental strength and often the great teams have it.

"I still believe Lyon is among the seven or eight teams able to win the Champions League.

"How can you know if Barcelona is stronger than Milan or Juventus, if Chelsea is more or less strong than Real Madrid?

"Anyway to my eyes, Lyon is part of that group of teams."

Carew has failed to find the net since December, but the Norwegian international is not overly concerned about his goal drought.

"At Lyon a lot of players can score," added Carew.

"I have already lived a difficult period in my career. But I have no worries, no doubt.

"A little like the whole team, I am undergoing a low period.

"But now, I can train again at my best. It is true I had flu and got a foot injury at Ajaccio. But today everything is fine."

The former Valencia ace also believes it is harder to play in France than in Spain.

"You have to know the French defenders are strong and rigorous," said Carew.

"They defend a little in an Italian way, and they are much more difficult to play than the Spanish defenders.

"In France, the game is more physical and exhausting."