“I woke up my barracks on Bakayoko’s goal against City”
To celebrate the systematic presence of many Monegasque supporters in outdoor parks, asmonaco.com is continuing its series dedicated to supporters of the Red and Whites. For this eleventh episode, discover Arnaud, a former resident of the Montpellier region.
It alone is the best symbol of the slogan “Everywhere, Always”! Gendarme by profession originally from Caen, Arnaud has worked in the Montpellier region for the past few years and now lives in Carcassonne. Despite numerous assignments “from the age of 19”, he has always been a loyal supporter of AS Monaco. A fan of the Rouge et Blanc since primary school, he never misses a match for his team, which he would like to come and see one day at the Stade Louis-II. Before Philippe Clément’s men move to a place he likes, meeting with this 27-year-old enthusiast. Portrait.
🎯💥
Our Rouge & Blanc are adjusting their sights a few days before the trip to Montpellier.🔜 #MHSCASM pic.twitter.com/FPRLWN4kDC
– AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 19, 2022
Hello Arnaud. First of all, where does this passion for AS Monaco come from, and how did it follow you everywhere?
In 2003-2004 I was in CM2, when we played the Champions League final. And that corresponds to the period when I started to take an interest in football. A friend of mine from primary school was an AS Monaco fan, and he passed that on to me. So I started to follow the Club from this epic, and it continued, despite Ligue 2 and all the adventures that we have been through since. More loyal than ever!
To talk about the present, a player like Wissam Ben Yedder, who even before coming to Monaco, at the time of Sevilla, had shouted his love for the Club, asked we are attached to it. Then, if we have to go back a little earlier, I really liked Bernardo Silva.
Supporter of AS Monaco
Which players marked you in the team of 2004?
I will not be very original, but specified Ludovic Giuly! He was the little darling of the time, and it still is today in the Monegasque community. Fernando Morientes and Jérôme Rothen as well. And then a little more original, Hugo Ibarra. He was a fine player. I couldn’t explain why, but I liked it a lot, even though it didn’t last long. He was the decisive passer in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid for the qualifying goal. Probably one of the most beautiful but of the epic!
Since this rapid period, who are those who have had favor in your eyes?
To talk about the present, a player like Wissam Ben Yedder, who even before coming to Monaco, at the time of Sevilla, had shouted his love for the Club, asked we are attached to it. Then, if we have to go back a little earlier, I really liked Bernardo Silva. Besides, I would love for him to come back one day! These are the kind of players who really characterize Monaco, very technical, who don’t make a noise off the pitch, but who light up the stadium. Even when it was a little less good, there were guys like Juan Pablo Pino who put glitter in people’s eyes when they played. Even if the results were not there.
Have you ever been to the Stade Louis-II, or made trips during your various assignments?
I was supposed to come to Stade Louis-II in 2021, that was the plan, but the Covid-19 fell there. I had gone to see the team play in Caen at the time in Ligue 2. We had taken 3-0, with an expulsion of Danijel Subasic, who had been replaced by Martin Sourzac. It was a bit of a mess, but I was happy to see them. Then with the job it was more difficult for me to go see them play in the cities where I was. But it’s part of my 2022 resolutions: go more to the stadium! I hope that Toulouse will go back to Ligue 1, moreover, it will be less far for me. Especially since there is the Muneg’Oc who organizes trips in the area, so I will organize myself. At the time I was talking to a guy on ASMforum, and we went to see a match in Caen together.
What makes that despite the descent into Ligue 2, we keep this passion for our club?
It is inexplicable! I think we don’t choose our club, the club chooses us. When you are a true, loyal supporter, the club can go through the worst times, you will always be there. In any case concerning me, it’s like that, it’s in me, and even if tomorrow AS Monaco were to go down to National, I would remain a fan of the Rouge et Blanc. Despite the results, and even if sometimes they can annoy us, we always support them.
Do the results affect your mood precisely?
I want to say that the result of the weekend determines the week to come. And even if we play on Friday and we lose, it’s obvious that the weekend starts very badly.
I was in police school, and I remember it because there was a curfew. But I was watching the match anyway and I believe that I woke up the whole corridor on the goal of Tiémoué Bakayoko. I screamed over his head!
About the return match against City in 2017
Apart from 2004, which period do you instinctively remember?
Definitely the team of 2017! It felt like nothing could happen to them, that they were invincible. It was a group of friends, offensively it was exceptional, there were sometimes five or six goals per game. Finally, it is the one that brought the most spectacle. At each meeting we knew it was going to be incredible.
Which match made you vibrate in particular?
Clearly the return match against Manchester City at the Stade Louis-II! I was in police school, and I remember it because there was a curfew. But I was watching the match anyway and I believe that I woke up the whole corridor on the goal of Tiémoué Bakayoko. I screamed over his head!
Do you have some jerseys in your collection?
I must have seven or eight, I’m a small player compared to some. I’m wearing Aurélien Tchouameni’s, by the way! Then I have the one by James Rodriguez, Layvin Kurzawa, Bernardo Silva, Wissam Ben Yedder… My favorite is the one from the late 90s, which was reissued last year, the yellow and the blue. This one with a little Marcelo Gallardo or David Trezeguet flocking, that’s not bad (smile). I would have liked him to come back again this year, I liked him a lot.
What does the slogan “Everywhere always” mean to you?
I think AS Monaco is a unique club! The parking lots are often full outside, and even wherever I have been posted, I have often come across Red and White supporters in the street. I think it’s one of the only clubs in France where you can find small groups of supporters all over France. Not on this scale anyway. The Club, thanks to its epics, has managed to create fans all over France, and that’s unique.
Finally, which Wall of Legends player would you keep, if you had to pick just one?
It’s hard (he thinks). But I think I would say Ludovic Giuly, for all the emotions he was able to bring during this epic 2003-2004 precisely. It is thanks to this team that I knew the club, so sentimentally there is something more. I can still see him scoring his third goal against Real Madrid and running towards the park shouting: “We are the Galacticos! This image often comes to mind, and just for that I want to say Ludovic Giuly.
He wishes to add a final remark:
I think the idea of launching the AS Monaco “Socios” project is a very good initiative, to participate in the life of the Club, even if it’s on a medium scale. I wanted to say.
📣 It’s finally here the first vote for Fan Token holders $ASM !
👉 Choose the design of the patch that will be present on the AS Monaco outfit during the return match against PSG next March.
📲 Meet on the app @socios pour the elector!
🎨 @Nairone pic.twitter.com/2BSXQayh0H
– AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 19, 2022