Is there (still) a driver on the board
Since the title gleaned in 2017, AS Monaco is only a shadow of itself. Apart from the post-title season where she was able to climb onto the podium, the irregularity of these results raises several questions about the management of the group and the internal structure of the club.
An idyllic setting, and unique in its kind but…
Monaco, its rock, its living environment and its football club unique in the world. Here is a shortcut on the club of the Principality, often made, to define the special atmosphere which reigns there. AS Monaco is an institution that holds, but which, due to its DNA, must make choices in economic matters. Indeed, regularly rallied for its meager attendance, the Louis II stadium does not allow the club to have the profitability of other Ligue 1 clubs, which is why the leaders have opted for maximum return with the purchase and sale young talents at a golden price, as long as the (successive) coaches have become there. This strategy has a downside, that of instability and lack of continuity in the professional group, harming its results. By the very admission of certain former “young” talents, after the success of this 8th league title, continuity might have enabled them to go and get the ultimate dream of any professional footballer, the Cup with the big ears. , but it will not.
A waltz of coaches at a frantic pace
After a dream journey, the era L.GARDEN ends on the rock, followed by a panoply of hasty, unthoughtful decisions and lost years for a club 8 times champion of France. Henry, Jardim, Moreno, Kovac and now Clément. All this wasted time is nothing compared to the more than 30 million euros spent on severance pay. The economic and sporting impact is felt on the ground. These perpetual changes have not made AS Monaco grow but have succeeded in gradually fading the passion, the flame, the desire among the players and supporters.
The change is now
In the summer of 2020, we assumed that this whole fiasco was going to end with the arrival of a new “renowned” sports director, at least having proven his worth abroad, in the person of P. MITCHELL. Ambitious, knowing football, determined, the club gives him full powers. To mark his territory he appoints coach Kovac against all odds. Behind the scenes, a major restructuring is underway, the elders of the Rock leave, the undesirables are chased away and Mitchell weaves his web and sets up his trusted men and his network. It professionalizes the infrastructure can we read. After a sluggish start interspersed with the health crisis, Kovac’s men made a resounding comeback in early 2021 and managed to reach Europe. We then think the Principality’s club is out of the woods and close to renewal. The lack of continuity is understood, and apart from the undesirables of the locker room, the team remains avoided, alterations are canceled to enrich the workforce. However the sky is not as radiant as we want to make believe, behind the scenes of the movement and tongues are loosened. Kovac too strict and strict, Mitchell who cleans up the strongman of the club who resists him, but all this remains neutral as long as the results have been obtained.
An end of no return
The 2022 season had to respect this spirit of consistency for the club, so much claimed, but it is clear that it will not have held. The new exercise was marked very early by a new failure, AS Monaco did not qualify for the Champions League but was drafted into the Europa League. Little by little the appearances of Mitchell and Petrov are rare, the results do not follow and nobody steps up to the plate. The return of the dark side, it gives the impression of a club closed in on itself. And as a symbol, Mitchell ejects Kovac only a few days before the resumption of the winter break. This little-explained and sudden change isolates the management of its supporters a little more, voices are raised and tongues are loosened on the internal management of PM and the departures are linked in the greatest silence. The unexpected appointment of P. Clément, landed from the club of Bruges, does not currently solve anything to the problems of AS Monaco. Eliminated at the gates of the Coupe de France final, on the verge of elimination in the European Cup against an opponent yet within his reach and in the soft underbelly in the league standings, PM’s bet is not winning. His departure (almost recorded) at the end of the season, associated with that of Petrov, who will never have succeeded in adapting to the world of football, are requested and desired. AS Monaco finds itself again in a dead end and will have to rebuild itself and start all over again. More bad choices, too much delegation of power, a jagged involvement of the president who seems to be preparing his aftermath, the future does not seem bright under the Riviera sun and we are entitled to ask ourselves the question of who directs and who holds the reins of the club?
The weariness of the results and this inability to restore the image of this historic club, wears out and damages the link with its supporters. A return to healthier bases with former members of the house could be the key to better supervise the Russian leaders who are struggling to put AS Monaco back in its place at the top of French football at first. Because in this series of unfortunate events, the leaders are not the only culprits, the players must also take and assume their part. Authenticity, character, desire, that’s all we ask for. Wet the jersey. Daghé Munegu
Photo : Pascal Della Zuana – Sport Icon