AS Monaco are four games without a win in all competitions after Stade de Reims took the three points away from the Stade Louis II (0-1) on Sunday.
Les Monégasques’ season has come off the rails since their Europa League exit against Bayer Leverkusen in February. Since that defeat, Monaco are yet to win, and they continued their poor run of form against Reims. The Principality club’s winless run now extends to four games.
Woodwork to the rescue
Monaco were the last team to beat Reims in Ligue 1, and since Will Still took the helm in September, the club have been imperious. However, it was the Monegasques who had the better chances, despite a lack of possession.
Wissam Ben Yedder’s dinked finish beat Yehvann Diouf, but not the post. Just the other side of the break, Vanderson then went close, but he hit the other post. Monaco were knocking on the door, but Reims would break it down through Folarin Balogun.
The Englishman, currently on loan from Arsenal, broke clear of the Monaco defenders and beat Alexander Nübel with a strongly-hit effort. Balogun could have had a second after pouncing on a Malang Sarr error, but this time Nübel was equal to the attempt.
Record-breaking Will Still
However, Monaco couldn’t create any chances of their own and therefore succumbed to a logical defeat. Les Monégasques drop off the podium and are now three points away from third-placed RC Lens.
Reims are currently on the longest unbeaten run in Europe’s top five divisions. Only former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel has had a longer unbeaten start to life in Ligue 1.
Monaco are in dire need of constructing a run of their own.
“It’s up to us to get our heads back up and work hard to turn our luck around. It’s not a question of desire, but we showed that today,” said Philippe Clement post-match.
The Principality club travel to relegation-struggling Ajaccio next Sunday, where only a win will do.
Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.
Photo by AS Monaco
No arrivals at AS Monaco as transfer window slams shut
The transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday, with no players coming through the door at AS Monaco, whilst outgoings have also been sparse.
It has been an atypically quiet January transfer window for Les Monégasques, who didn’t add to their existing group before the deadline on Tuesday evening. It is the first time that the Principality club haven’t recruited during the winter window since the 2004/05 season. Benoît Badiashile is the highest profile exit during this window, whilst there were further departures before the closure of the market.
Confirmed departures
Félix Lemarechal from Monaco to Brest
The young French midfielder, who captains the club’s Groupe Elite, is set to gain first-team, top-division experience at Ligue 1 rivals Brest. The player was absent from training on Monday ahead of a six-month loan deal to the club. The player is part of the long-term planning at Monaco, and the deal therefore doesn’t include an option to make the loan permanent. The deal was officialised on deadline day.
Coveted but staying
Jean Lucas linked by Foot Mercato to Espanyol, Troyes and Besiktas
The Brazilian midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at the Principality club and had been linked with a move before Tuesday’s deadline. However, none of the proposals matched Monaco’s expectations. The club wanted to sell the player, but all of the interested parties insisted on a loan. Espanyol’s loan offer included a purchase option of over €5 million, unlike the other two proposals, which were simple loans.
Maghnes Akliouche linked by L’Équipe to Rennes
The academy product had been linked with a departure throughout the window, and even during last summer. Lille have long been touted as a potential destination, but Stade Rennais also entered the fray. According to L’Équipe, the Breton club made a €6 million offer to acquire the attacking midfielder, who has a contract that runs until 2024. Rennes then upped their offer just before deadline day to €10m, but that proposal received a similar response. Monaco Life understands that the Principality club had no intention of letting Akliouche leave the club during the window, and he still forms part of the long-term vision of the club.
Photo of Maghnes Akliouche by Monaco Life
Targets
Sambi Lokonga linked by Foot Mercato to Monaco
The Arsenal midfielder has found game time hard to come by since his arrival from Belgium. Monaco, who see the midfield as a potential department for improvement, have considered the player this window. Foot Mercato have gone so far as to say that a bid was lodged. The French publication reports that that bid was rejected. Ultimately, Lokonga did move, but to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace on loan.
Abakar Sylla linked by L’Équipe to Monaco
Since Badiashile’s departure to Chelsea earlier in January, Les Monégasques have been scouting the market for a potential replacement. Sylla, who plays his club football at Philippe Clement’s former club, Club Brugge, was reportedly a name on the shortlist. Strong performances from Guillermo Maripán, as well as a return to a back four made the recruitment of a centre-back less of a pressing issue than it perhaps was at the beginning of the season. Monaco Life can confirm Monaco’s interest in the centre-back, however, Club Brugge’s demands were ultimately too high, which brought an end to discussions over a January move.
Returning loanee
Chrislain Matsimafrom Lorient to Monaco
Matsima joined Lorient on loan at the start of the season. However, the Monaco centre-back has only made seven starts for Les Merlus and has struggled to dislodge an established centre-back partnership. His return to the Principality club was announced on deadline day. With the club failing to land main target Sylla, Monaco saw a need to add numbers at the back, and have therefore taken the option of repatriating Matsima. He will add depth and numerically compensate for Badiashile’s departure earlier in the window.
Ultimately, Monaco’s decision not to recruit this winter was born out of a profound reflection of the impact of a player’s arrival. Whilst there were targets, it became clear that deals, particularly for Sylla, would be difficult.
Without the chance to recruit their primary targets, the club weren’t keen to panic buy and add to the squad for the sake of it. Les Monégasques currently have a functional and harmonious dressing room, and the club didn’t want to jeopardise that.
There is also the question of giving youth the chance. Should a player have been brought in, he would have been signed to compete for a starting spot, which would have potentially blocked the path of an aspiring academy product. The development and integration of youth players into the first team is a major objective at the club.
AS Monaco began 2023 just like they ended 2022: with a win. It may not have been emphatic, but Philippe Clement’s side scraped past Brest (1-0) on New Year’s Day to move up to fourth provisionally in Ligue 1.
Fans who were permitted free entry to the Louis II clash packed the stands to welcome football back to the Principality. It was the first time that Les Monégasques had played at home since the World Cup break.
Monaco should have steered themselves into the lead in the first-half, but a mix of good goalkeeping and poor finishing let Brest off the hook. Eliesee Ben Seghir, making his first Ligue 1 start, had the best chance. The French youngster produced a stunning piece of skill to work the opening before blasting just over from eight yards out.
However, Monaco did hit the front early in the second-half. Aleksandr Golovin cut back on his right-foot just outside the box and rifled a perfectly-hit shot into the top corner. From there, Clement’s side dropped off and decreased their intensity. That was a mistake.
Brest, who hadn’t mustered any resistance until that point, began to push and worked multiple chances. Alexander Nübel had to deny Jérémy Le Douaron on multiple occasions, whilst Steve Mounié had a brilliant chance late on, but he could only strike the bar with his header.
Ultimately, Monaco held on, and the three points moves the team up to fourth. Marseille has a game in hand, but the Principality side are currently level on points with their third-placed Mediterranean rivals.
Clement’s comments
“It is important to have more and more people in the stadium,” began Clement, who believed that the initiative to allow fans free entry helped his side. “Away from home there is always a lot of people and that gives more strength to the players to get the result. It is very important for them, and it is something that could prove decisive in the result of a match. I hope in the coming months there will be more people here in the Louis II to push us.”
Man of the match – Aleksandr Golovin
Golovin is certainly experiencing his best season in red and white. His goal against Brest was his fourth of the season in Ligue 1. It was another crucial one. He is becoming a player that steps up in big moments for Monaco, and having such players within the squad will be essential for the Champions League push.
Monaco next compete in the Coupe de France. They will face Ligue 2 side Rodez at home on Saturday.
Photo by AS Monaco
Ben Lambrecht replaces Jean-Emmanuel de Witt as Monaco CEO
Jean-Emmanuel de Witt, who was appointed AS Monaco CEO only six months ago, has been replaced by Ben Lambrecht, who joins the Principality side from satellite club Cercle Brugge.
In a move that highlights the increasing synergies between Monaco and their Belgian satellite club, Lambrecht succeeds de Witt. The latter was only appointed to the role of CEO in May of this year, but according to AFP, his profile was ultimately too detached from the specificities of football.
Lambrecht comes in with a knowledge of the multi-club project, having contributed to the good results and business development of Cercle Brugge, who have bounced back after a difficult start to the 2022/23 season. The sides are currently joined in Benidorm for a mid-season training camp.
Lambrecht had occupied his role at Cercle since March 2021, and has since been working closely with the management of AS Monaco in implementing a global strategy and helping modernise and strengthen the existing structures and synergies between the two clubs.
Lambrecht was trained at the INSEAD Business School, and has 28 years of business experience at places like KPMG, Delacre and Coca-Cola. He has worked in Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK and France.
Photo by AS Monaco
Monaco World Cup round-up: Embolo begins with emotional goal
Five AS Monaco players featured in the opening round of World Cup games in Qatar, as Breel Embolo stole the headlines, netting for Switzerland against his country of birth, Cameroon.
Krépin Diatta and Ismaïl Jakobs were the first Monaco players to star in the tournament, with the latter’s preparation for the tie against the Netherlands hugely hampered.
Administrative banality almost ends Jakobs’ World Cup
Jakobs’ decision to switch international allegiance from Germany to Senegal was a relatively late one. Despite featuring for Aliou Cissé’s side in the last international break before the World Cup, FIFA still hadn’t processed his paperwork. Consequently, the full-back’s participation was thrown into doubt and only resolved hours before the game.
Given the all-clear, Jakobs had to settle for a place on the bench, but came on in the latter stages. Diatta played from the start, but couldn’t influence the outcome of the game as Senegal lost 2-0 against the Dutch.
France survive early Socceroos scare
Youssouf Fofana and his former teammate at AS Monaco, Aurélien Tchouaméni, both featured for Les Bleus as they came back from a goal down to beat Australia 4-1 on Tuesday. Tchouaméni featured from the start, as he often has in recent weeks, with his old midfield partner coming on in the final minutes.
Former Monaco forward Kylian Mbappé got himself on the scoresheet too as Didier Deschamps’ side got themselves off to a winning start. Axel Disasi didn’t play, but he could potentially start against Denmark on Saturday, with RMC Sport reporting that the former Reims defender is being tested as a right-back option ahead of the game.
A game-changing intervention
Takumi Minamio didn’t feature from the start against Germany, but he used his limited playing time to good effect. When he entered the fray in the 74th minute, Japan were 1-0 down. One minute later, and Japan drew level after the Monaco forward’s shot was parried into the path of Ritsu Doan, who couldn’t miss the rebound.
Japan shocked the Germans when they grabbed a late winner through Takuma Asano, with Minamino’s introduction proving a game-changing moment. Germany now face Spain in their next round, and they must win if they are to progress to the knockout rounds.
Embolo’s emotional goal
In a roundtable interview with Monaco Life prior to the tournament, Embolo spoke about the difficulty of choosing Switzerland over Cameroon.
“When I chose to play for Switzerland, there was always part of me that wanted to represent my country of birth. I am very happy with my choice and I’m Cameroon’s biggest fan,” he said.
The Monaco striker had the unusual sensation of facing his country of birth in a World Cup opener, and he marked the “emotional” occasion with the winning goal, which out of respect, he chose not to celebrate. He has now put Switzerland in a strong position to qualify from their group.
Sead Kolasinac scored a 98th-minute winner to break Monaco hearts at the Stade Louis II on Sunday (2-3) as Philippe Clement’s men head into the World Cup break on a sour note.
A win for Monaco would have seen them move into the top four, and for a large part of the match, they looked on course to do so, but a late collapse sees them drop to sixth.
AS Monaco’s supporters’ groups packed the stands of the Louis II on Sunday evening, whilst thousands of Marseille fans joined in to create a fantastic atmosphere.
The away side started the brighter and should have taken the lead. Nuno Tavares, Mattéo Guendouzi and Samuel Gigot all missed glaring chances early-on. Marseille did eventually take the lead through a sumptuous Alexis Sanchez free-kick.
However, Monaco hit back before the break. Krépin Diatta was brought down inside the box and Wissam Ben Yedder stepped up and calmly slotted a panenka penalty past Anthony Lopes to level the scores.
Monaco then carried their momentum in the second half, and they went ahead through Kevin Volland, who was slotted through on goal by Aleksandr Golovin. But the pendulum swung again the final stages.
Jordan Veretout showed some nimble footwork inside the box before blasting past Alexander Nübel to level the scores. Both sides then went for the win. As a result of a horrible injury to Amine Harit, there was a lengthy amount of stoppage time, and with the final kick of the game, Marseille broke Monaco hearts.
Dimitri Payet’s in-swinging cross was met by Kolasinac, with the glancing header making its way past Nübel and into the back of the net.
Clement’s comments
“The outcome was cruel… In the end, I am disappointed because my players didn’t get the result they deserved tonight,” said Clement.
The Belgian coach also bemoaned some late refereeing decisions, which saw Payet awarded a late foul, when replays showed there was very minimal contact.
“Honestly, the foul was very slight. In any case, if this action deserved a foul, we must call for 100 like that per game. I am very disappointed, like my players,” he said.
Man of the match – Wissam Ben Yedder
The Frenchman showed a good reaction to being left out of Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad. If Monaco are to reach their objectives this season, they will need a fully-firing Ben Yedder and one that isn’t affected by his World Cup disappointment. His panenka penalty was indicative of a player high on confidence. Perhaps a mid-season break for the 32-year-old striker will be a blessing in disguise for the former Sevilla man.
Monaco now goes into hibernation before returning to competitive action against Auxerre on 28th December.
Photo by AS Monaco
All the headlines and highlights from Monaco, direct to you every morning
