A deserved 1-0 win over Galatasaray not only allowed AS Monaco to edge closer to progression in this season’s Champions League, but it also brought them closer to their own fans.

Not all has been well at the Principality club in recent weeks. Despite a headline win over PSG, and two hard-fought draws against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, consistency in results – and in performances – has been sorely lacking. Defeat to Brest (0-1) over the weekend, Monaco’s fourth in five league games, saw the club’s ultras begin a strike, which started in Tuesday night’s game against Galatasaray.

The ultras weren’t even in position at the start of the match and were silent for the first 15 minutes. It didn’t come as a surprise, and Sébastien Pocognoli said that he had “heard” of the disgruntlement. He was not the primary target; Monaco’s hierarchy, chiefly CEO Thiago Scuro, was. When the ultras did return to their usual position, they unfurled their banners upside down in protest. The only ones facing correctly were those that were critical of the club’s hierarchy.

Pocognoli enjoys “communion” between players and fans

The relationship between fans and the club at the start of the match was glacial; by the end of the match, warmth had returned. “What I hold on to is the communion [between the players and the fans] at the end of the match. [The fans] pushed us, and that really helped. It is very positive,” said Pocognoli post-match.

It was the performance of his players that brought about the rapprochement and started to heal the wounds that had been opened. “In the end, it is the attitude on the pitch, the respect for the shirt that will bring the pieces [of the club] back together,” added Pocognoli. And the correct “attitude” was present, at least in the second half of this crucial clash against Galatasaray.

The Turkish giants were buoyed by a fervent and large following, as they often are. With Monaco’s ultras “on strike”, it was the Galatasaray fans, dotted around the Stade Louis II, who were heard in the opening minutes and their team that created the biggest chances. Ilkay Gundogan uncharacteristically blazed over when perfectly positioned to open the scoring, and some slack defending from Vanderson and Thilo Kehrer allowed Baris Yilmaz to sneak behind the back line. Luckily, the Turkish forward’s effort came off the post.

But Lukas Hradecky, despite the frailties of his defence being exposed, wasn’t threatened. He didn’t have to make a big save, unlike Ugurcan Cakir, who was busier, parrying two long-range Maghnes Akliouche efforts before the break.

Pocognoli turns fear into bravery

There was no doubt, however, that it was Galatasaray who were in the ascendancy and the more disappointed to go into half-time level. Pocognoli said that he thought his side were “scared” at times in the first half and called for his side to be “braver” in the second.

He got the desired response. Immediately, there was more intent and energy from Monaco, who ought to have taken the lead from the spot when Takumi Minamino was taken down in the box. Denis Zakaria’s penalty was poorly hit and poorly directed as Cakir made the stop with his feet. Two more huge chances followed, both of which were missed by Folarin Balogun.

You started to think whether this would be Monaco’s night, until Balogun then did put away a chance, a scrappy effort from a deflected corner; they all count. “He showed a strength of character. He doesn’t give up, and he put the third chance away. We congratulated him for not giving up,” said Maghnes Akliouche post-match.

There could – and should – have been more goals for Monaco. Balogun was intelligent to let a ball roll through him, teeing up Lamine Camara to get on the scoresheet, but he lacked the composure to provide the finishing touch. It set up a nervy finish, but Monaco held firm, conceding no big chances and keeping Victor Osimhen, the second-top scorer in the Champions League going into this matchday, very quiet.

“We need 10 or 11 points” – Minamino

“I am satisfied with the performance. I know what we can do. I am proud of how we played in the second half […] after the win against PSG, I said that I recognised my team; tonight, it is the same,” said Pocognoli. It is a step in the right direction, a way to “create a positive spiral”, as the Monaco manager put it. And it is also a big step towards the next phase of the Champions League, even if they aren’t there yet.

“In the next two games, the opponents are really strong (Juventus and Real Madrid). I don’t think that [the nine points that we have] are enough. I think we need 10 or 11,” analysed Minamino post-match.

As was the case following the win over PSG, Les Monégasques are not getting carried away, but this is a big win, not only for their UCL hopes, but also for the relationship with the fans, which has been tested in recent times. Tuesday night was one of rapprochement for Monaco, in more ways than one.

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Photo source: AS Monaco