Rmixed entry for AS Monaco. On the occasion of its debut on the European scene, the Principality club conceded a draw (1-1) against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday at the Louis-II stadium, in the third preliminary round of the Champions League. The Red and Whites will therefore play their qualification next week at the Philips Stadion (Eindhoven) and hope not to suffer the same fate as last year, when they were eliminated in the play-offs against the Ukrainian club Chakhtar Donetsk (0-1, 2-2).
If the Rock club succeeds in taking this first step, it will probably find another big name in European football in the next round, such as Benfica Lisbon. The start of a marathon for the players of Belgian coach Philippe Clément, who will chain confrontations at a frantic pace until the 2022 World Cup. But carried by choice offensive recruits and intense preparation, the Monegasque workforce seems armed for best negotiate a particularly busy start to the season.
Philippe Clément, the new breath?
Arrived at the head of the team in January 2022 after the departure of Croatian Niko Kovac, Philippe Clément had succeeded in injecting a formidable momentum into the Red and Whites in Ligue 1, which had resulted in an impressive series of nine consecutive victories in the ten last days of the championship. A spring of madness, a rebirth for a club that hadn’t led the way until then, thanks to the work of a coach adept at attacking play and intensity, a disciple of high pressing and the possession game turned towards the opposing goal. However, this feat was not enough for the Principality club to grab second place (qualifying for the C1), lost on the last day in Lens (2-2), in favor of Olympique de Marseille, victorious (4-0) against Strasbourg.
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Determined to start again on the same bases from the start of the season, AS Monaco wants to play the spoilsport. But he will however have to face a particularly busy schedule, which could slow him down in the race for the podium. Because, beyond European games – which it hopes to play for as long as possible – the Principality club will have to, from the first seven days of the championship, face most of its direct opponents in the race for the top of the table. : Strasbourg, Rennes, Lens, Paris, Nice and Lyon. A veritable obstacle course awaits Philippe Clément’s men, certainly consolidated on the offensive level, but still feverish at the back – the club have conceded 10 goals in 5 friendly matches played.Unconvincing beginnings, but reinforcements of choice
Author of an inconclusive summer preparation (2 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses) – Monaco was unable to beat Austria Vienna (2-2), FC Saint-Gall (1-1), Inter Milan (2-2), FC Porto (1-2) and Southampton (1-3) – and the sale of their metronome Aurélien Tchouaméni (22) to Real Madrid, the question arises as to ASM’s ability to bounce back this season. Especially since, since the departure of the essential French international (against a check for around 100 million euros), the club’s leaders have not really shown themselves concerned about the idea of finding him a replacement. For the time being, no recruit has been registered in the midfield and the Monegasques seem to want to count on Youssouf Fofana, the former partner of Tchouaméni, and several promising young people to do the job.
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Nevertheless, AS Monaco has already formalized the arrival of two new reinforcements in attack with the Japanese Takumi Minamino (27 years old, FC Liverpool, 15 million euros) and the Swiss Breel Embolo (25 years old, Borussia Mönchengladbach, 12.5 million euros) – two attacking and versatile players, accustomed to European games –, while French goalkeeper Thomas Didillon (26, Cercle Bruges) joined the Rock on loan. Finally, Chelsea central defender Malang Sarr (23) could soon land in the Principality in the form of a loan with an option to buy. An ideal recruit to consolidate the central Monegasque hinge.
Sparkling champion in 2017, Monaco had declined both sportingly, to the point of coming close to relegation in 2019, and financially, with 75 professional players under contract. Five years later, the club seems to have regained stability, thanks in particular to the foundations laid by Paul Mitchell, sporting director since June 2020. The former British player had been given the mission to slim down the group, while strengthening the workforce. A group which will also be able to benefit from next September from the new Performance Center in La Turbie (ASM training center). A new and vast building reserved for the pros and worthy of the biggest European clubs which could allow AS Monaco to settle in the big leagues.