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Ancelotti defiant as Montpellier close on title

Sunday's damaging 2-1 defeat at third-placed Lille left the Italian's Qatar-backed side five points adrift of a modest-spending Montpellier and in danger of being further behind before they host in-form Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.

"There are still four games to play, it's not finished," Ancelotti told reporters after the Lille game.

"We have not lost the title yet, we have to believe everything is possible, it will be more difficult but it's not over," the Italian added.

"We now need more than a miracle," midfielder Momo Sissoko said.

"We can forget the title," goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, one of PSG's high profile signings, added.

"If Montpellier let it slip away, they're stupid."

Sirigu's frank assessment was dismissed by Montpellier coach Rene Girard, who preferred to turn his attention to the side's next fixture.

"I'm not listening to that kind of comment," Girard said on sports daily L'Equipe's website on Monday.

"Pressure is here but that is what drives us. Pressure can be positive.

"When you're a coach, what matters is the following game. You can only celebrate what you have won."

"We're in money time. Every point will count, starting with those we scored tonight," coach Rudi Garcia said after the win over PSG.