PARIS (AFP) - Marseille coach Eric Gerets has tried to draw a line under the announcement of his imminent departure, prior to his side's home game against Toulouse in the French first division on Saturday. Gerets revealed on Wednesday that he will leave the French league leaders at the end of the season, citing the breakdown of his relationship with owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus as the principal reason behind his decision. But with Marseille within touching distance of their first league title in 17 years, the 54-year-old has spoken out in praise of Dreyfus in a bid to put the business of his resignation behind him. "I don't know the exact number of millions that he has invested in this club, but I don't know where OM would be without him," Gerets said on Thursday. "You have to respect that." The Belgian's shock announcement brought an end to months of speculation about his future and comes at a time when Marseille are two points clear at the head of the table with five games remaining. Victory over fifth-placed Toulouse on Saturday evening will allow them to re-open a five-point lead over second-placed Bordeaux, and Marseille skipper Lorik Cana says his team-mates will not be distracted by off-field developments. "For us players, the most important thing right now is to be champions," the Albanian midfielder said. "As the team captain, I feel the players are not too disturbed going into the final sprint." Marseille's advantage at the summit would be even greater, had Yoann Gourcuff not snatched an injury-time winner for Bordeaux in a thrilling game at Rennes on Wednesday night. The France international was on target twice as Laurent Blanc's side fought back from the shock of conceding a goal within 20 seconds and the expulsion of defender Marc Planus to win 3-2. "Today we're in second place, we deserve our position, and we will first try to stay ahead of the teams behind us," Gourcuff said after securing Bordeaux's sixth league win in succession. "If that works, we can start looking at what there is above us." Blanc, meanwhile, felt his side had sent out a strong message to the teams around them. "The victory is a good thing, to say to one team (Marseille) that we are still there and to the others that we will not let go of the second place that we have now," said Blanc, whose side host struggling Sochaux on Sunday night. Defending champions Lyon are four points behind Bordeaux in third place, but face a strong challenge for the last Champions League qualifying berth from Paris St-Germain, a point behind in fourth. Lyon host Valenciennes on Saturday, while PSG face Rennes on Sunday. Sochaux's three main relegation rivals are all at home this weekend, with second-bottom Caen facing Le Mans, third-bottom St Etienne taking on Nancy and fourth-bottom Nantes welcoming basement club Le Havre to the west coast. Fixtures Saturday (1700GMT unless otherwise stated) Caen v Le Mans, Grenoble v Nice, Lorient v Lille, Monaco v Auxerre, St Etienne v Nancy, Valenciennes v Lyon, Marseille v Toulouse (1900GMT) Sunday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated) Nantes v Le Havre, PSG v Rennes, Bordeaux v Sochaux (1900GMT)