Everything you need to know before the match between Monaco and Lyon this Sunday evening
Literally and figuratively, Monegasques have a problem with take-offs at the moment. In Belgrade, Friday, the day after their success against Etoile Rouge in the Europa League (0-1), it was their return flight that was played. They arrived at Nice airport at 5 p.m. instead of 1 p.m. At Louis-II, this season, the flight is just as chaotic. The ASM plateaus at low altitude, unable to pocket a victory.
“Start by playing 11 the whole game”
Hooked by Eindhoven during the 3e preliminary round first leg of the Champions League (1-1), it was held in check by Rennes (1-1), then beaten by Lens (1-4) and Troyes (2-4) in Ligue 1. unfortunate for a candidate for the podium. Tenths of the championship before this 7e day, the Monegasques intend to start the machine at home against OL this evening. This prestigious success gave as much good as the last two victories won in Nice and Serbia.
Asked about the difficulties of his team to win on his land, Philippe Clément put the arbitration on the table, while the ASM completed its last three outings at home with an expelled player. “I would like to avoid talking about this story but it is the main reason for these results, a reacted the Monegasque coach. The players aren’t more motivated away than at home, but we have to start with eleven all game.”
“You have to invest a lot to win in Ligue 1. It’s very hard. It’s up to us to change that”, added Breel Embolo, while his team are five points behind Lyon, a direct competitor on the podium. A gap that should not be allowed to fly away. “I find that we have accelerated mentally since the start of the season, the 25-year-old striker wants to believe. We took a beating, especially after our elimination from the Champions League, but we always got up. I think we’ve taken a step forward.”
Ben Yedder-Embolo, a bond to be woven
In a team that lacks fluid attacking patterns and must “Scoring quickly to build confidence” according to the Swiss, his association with Ben Yedder is a beacon of hope.
Against Rennes, Lens and Troyes, their connection was destroyed by a red card. Victims of headwinds, they have not yet exchanged the slightest assist. On paper, they can form the duo able to release the handbrake of a disappointing collective on placed attacks. “They have a complementarity. There is no doubt about it”, Clement was positive about his offensive leaders. Embolo develops. “With my 1.85m, my role is to go into duels and he can be more of a finisher.”
Their three joint starts in L1 gave birth to a draw and two defeats “We will not go to see the coach to ask him to associate us“, joked Embolo yesterday, before specifying that he was working with his captain to find out how to find himself. “We are two types of attackers but we can work together. VSwill do it”, he said. The rookie from Gladbach has already scored three times. And it could allow “WBY” to reconnect, while the French international is only registered once in his first seven games.
“I don’t worry about him, Embolo encouraged him. I know what player he is. He has incredible qualities. He doesn’t need my advice because I need his instead. We know that he is very much defined by his goals and I am impatiently awaiting his first in L1. As soon as he starts, he will bring us an extra.” The future returns from injuries of Boadu and Volland, still forfeited this evening, could accelerate their automatisms. “For now, I can play them at the same time but not every three days and for 90 minutes”, explained Clément, pilot of a plane who seeks his cruising speed.
The phrase
“I want to score as much as possible and I don’t set myself a limit. Even if helping the team is the most important thing. Maybe I could have scored one or two more goals at the start of the season. The best exercise of my career in Basel with 17 goals (2014-15)? It’s true that it’s a bit old.”
Breel Embolo, ambitious
The number
6. ASM have won 6 of their last 17 L1 games against OL, since their rise to the top flight in 2013 (9 losses, 2 draws).