Monaco, the turn of the month in March
Beaten at home by Reims this Sunday (1-2), Monaco is preparing to play 6 games in 18 days. Coupe de France, Ligue 1, Europa League… The month of March will be decisive for the club and the future of its coach Philippe Clément.
Hosting a 14th in Ligue 1 weakened by a suspended captain and seven injured, what’s more at home where he has not lost for more than five months (September 11 against OM), it looked like the ideal panorama for Monaco fill up with confidence before a formidable month of March.
However, after two draws, the Principality club failed to find their way to victory this Sunday. Worse, he was punished by Reims in the dying seconds (2-1). “I’m disappointed because we weren’t rewarded today”, regretted Philippe Clément at the end of the game. “The players did a lot of good things and dominated, but we made mistakes in the last seven minutes,” added the Monegasque technician.
“We must be able to react”
Mistakes leading to a setback that will quickly have to be forgotten, because the next deadlines will be fast approaching. On Wednesday, Monaco will travel to La Beaujoire for a semi-final of the Coupe de France. Finalists last year, the Asémistes will face Nantes carried by a stadium which is already full as long as the supporters have been waiting for a trophy for more than 20 years. Then came a perilous trip to Marseille, a trip to Portugal for the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League against Braga, a trip to Strasbourg against a team in great shape, then the reception of Braga and finally that of Paris-Saint-Germain.
To face this dantesque calendar, Monaco will first have to recover from this last match lost in the mind. “We must be able to react even if we will have even fewer options because we lost Jean Lucas for Wednesday (suspended in Nantes following his exclusion, editor’s note), explains Philippe Clément. I will rely on the good things I saw today of Vanderson, Diop, Gelson or Ben Yedder scoring again.” Essential men for the many matches to come, accompanied by the returns of Tchouaméni, Caio Henrique (suspended this Sunday), Boadu (prospective for Nantes) even Golovin (absent against Reims for muscular discomfort felt in training).
“This month of March will be busy, assured Axel Disasi after the meeting. The plan was to take the 3 points to start it with a lot of confidence and serenity. This month will be important for the end of the season. our group, we know that in this month, we can do great things.” The pessimists will say that Monaco, eager to look good on all fronts, could also lose everything. While he is now eight points from the podium, the Champions League seems to be moving away day after day. However, it was to dispute it and settle there that Niko Kovac was dismissed last December …