AS Monaco remain winless in the Champions League as Vicario frustrated the hosts, ensuring that an unambitious Tottenham Hotspur side took a point away from the Stade Louis II on Wednesday night (0-0).

Thomas Frank quickly identified the man “responsible” for Tottenham Hotspur’s resistance: Vicario. “He was very good today. I think that some of his saves were exceptional,” said the Tottenham manager, who was all too aware that his team had been bested in the Principality. If his eyes didn’t tell him, then the boos from the travelling away fans at full-time did.

But this is a match from which Monaco can have regrets. Sébastien Pocognoli, who took his place in the dugout at the Stade Louis II for the first time since replacing Adi Hutter, said that the feeling in the dressing room post-match was one of pride but also one of frustration. Both were certainly justified.

Vicario wins duel with Balogun

Against Premier League opposition, Monaco dominated almost from start to finish, peppering the Tottenham goal but failing to find that all-important goal. It was Folarin Balogun who went closest in the first half. The former Arsenal forward was brought in ahead of Mika Biereth and his frequent runs in behind justified that decision. One such run was picked out by Maghnes Akliouche, himself linked with a move to Spurs over the summer. However, Balogun was denied by the onrushing Vicario, who made the first of nine saves.

His next one, also from Balogun, was the pick of the lot as he got down low to his left to turn the curled effort around the post. Pocognoli said that Vicario receiving the man of the match award “says a lot”. It speaks to an excellent performance from the Italian but also to a wastefulness from the Principality club. Takumi Minamino was the main culprit, with the Japan international failing to hit the target with any of his three chances late on, but when Vicario was called upon, as he often was, he was up to the task. His excellent save from Jordan Teze’s close-range header felt like the decisive moment, the one in which it became clear that Monaco would not be able to beat the man mountain.

“It is a shame not to take the three points” – Monaco manager Pocognoli

But in the crowd, there was also a feeling of inevitability that this would be a smash-and-grab from Spurs, who failed to truly test Philipp Kohn, in what was a tale of two goalkeepers; one was busy, the other largely redundant. Even as Monaco tired in the closing stages, Tottenham could not capitalise. Naturally, even early in the Pocognoli reign, there is reason for optimism, despite the goalless draw.

“When you create so many chances against a team of this level and you keep a clean sheet, it is a shame not to take the three points, which were more than deserved,” said Pocognoli. “But we will gain a lot more in the long term by playing like this. I prefer this to winning 1-0, but by defending for the whole match and showing nothing positive.”

The Monaco manager admitted that, having taken just two from a possible nine so far in the Champions League, there is a “need for points”, although he dismissed any notion of “urgency” pre-match. Under Hutter this season, there were often results but not performances. The pendulum has swung. Pocognoli and Monaco will need both if they want their Champions League experience to go beyond the League Phase.

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Photo source: AS Monaco