With 4 points in three days, the ASM is still not at the expected level.

Rookies in the run-in

With the Japanese Takumi Minamino, the Malian Mohamed Camara and the Swiss Breel Embolo, who arrived in the off-season, Monaco has relied on three young internationals who are seasoned in Europe. Former sports boss at Red Bull, Paul Mitchell, Monegasque sports director, knows the first two, passed by Salzburg, and the third, revealed in Germany. He was convinced of their ability to integrate quickly. However, the levels are disparate. Monaco in pâté.

Orphan of Aurélien Tchouaméni, gone to Real Madrid, the team, superior on the athletic level, never managed to dominate PSV Eindhoven in the midfield and paid the high price, unable to qualify for the Champions League group stage.

With Camara, it would certainly have been different. Moreover, his entry at half-time against Lens, in complicated circumstances, was interesting. But insufficient (4-1 defeat last Saturday during the 3rd day).

In Paris, the Malian will play alongside the returning Youssouf Fofana and should solidify the environment. On the other hand, Minamino, who has known the group for more than six weeks, does not manage to endorse the costume of offensive boss.

The European performances of the player from Liverpool were bad. His exit against destitute Lens. Unlike the energy deployed by Embolo, symbolized by his equalizer against Rennes (1-1 on August 13), Minamino “still has to work physically”, recognizes Philippe Clément. The coach knows his player “lacks automation and confidence”. But he gives her his.

Leaders in disparate shapes

The axial spine of AS Monaco has two in-form elements: Axel Disasi in central defense and Youssouf Fofana in midfield. Even if the first still sometimes lacks concentration and the second does not always manage to channel themselves, they are leaders on the ground. Unlike the other two basic elements of the team: Alexander Nübel, in goal, and Wissam Ben Yedder, at the forefront of the attack.

The German goalkeeper continues to trigger interrogations, like his random footwork. If he has made a few high-performance reflex stops on his line, he is less efficient to go quickly on the ground, or to win in the air.

Replaced without complaining against Rennes after the exclusion of Fofana quarter of an hour into the game, Ben Yedder showed his sense of collective.

But, remained on the bench during the only victory (2-1 in Strasbourg on August 6 during the first day), the man with 25 goals in L1 last season, has still not scored this season. At 32, he has again failed in his quest for C1 with Monaco. And despite his international status (15 caps), he is not sure to experience the World Cup in Qatar (November 20 – December 18) if his performance does not improve.

Research Coach

Last season, Monaco finished with a bang (nine wins and a draw over the last ten days). The team evolved little. But in July, Philippe Clément announced the color: given the number of meetings to contest, it will take a large rotation. Moreover, its workforce is large and dense.

As a result, important elements from last season, such as Ruben Aguilar, Kevin Volland, Sofiane Diop – yet a scorer in Strasbourg -, Gelson Martins, even Aleksandr Golovin, are playing less currently.

“We can always talk about those who don’t play. But it is important that all the players are available for the coming months,” explains the Belgian coach. We play every three days, it starts now (seven games in three weeks, editor’s note). They already have automation. We need to create these automatisms for the new ones.”

He thus justifies his trial and error. But also by his desire to master different systems. Even in numerical inferiority, he thus played for a long time in 3-4-2 against Lens.

If he admits to questioning his choices and his decision-making, Clément will always ask “a lot of desire and intensity” from his players. “We want to gauge ourselves to compete with the best, he concluded. Without fear. Because when you’re scared, you always lose. “.