in attack, the ASM has rich problems

“Happy”, “iron”, “gift”, “strong emotion” : In recent days, Adi Hütter has only had positive words on his lips. How could it be otherwise? AS Monaco have won six of their seven matches this season, including their return to the Champions League against FC Barcelona two weeks ago (2-1). Victories and goals, everything you need to satisfy Hütter, a coach with an assumed offensive style.

«We know we have a risky game but I like to play this way, very offensively», Launched the Austrian a year ago after a victory in Reims (1-3). And to support his words last April: “I want exciting football. I much prefer to win 5-2 (as against Metz on March 30, Editor’s note) than on a boring 1-0.” So the Monegasque management made sure to offer Hütter, who arrived on the Rock in July 2023, a squad that meets his desires.

Akliouche and Ben Seghir compete with Minamino and Golovin

One would have thought that the departure of Wissam Ben Yedder, the club’s top scorer for the last five seasons, would be felt at the start of the season. This is not the case. Monaco has always scored this season (14 goals in 7 matches), and has only failed to do so once in its last 28 matches (against PSG on March 1, 0-0). This is above all because the players have adopted the Hütter method, one of the main precepts of which is counter-pressing, which consists of attacking the opponent as soon as the ball is lost in order to recover it high. And thus quickly find yourself in a scoring situation.

SEE ALSO – Ben Seghir’s nice goal during Monaco-Le Havre on September 22 (3-1)

This style, combined with an oiled team, a large squad and well-worked set pieces, gives the following statistic: 13 Monegasques have been decisive in Ligue 1 this season. In the 5 major European championships, only PSG is doing as well. Among them are two pure technicians: Maghnes Akliouche (22 years old) and Eliesse Ben Seghir (19 years old). They both started against Barça, each bringing their nerve, their subtle ball handling and their decisive gestures in small spaces.

The two young Monegasques thus made Hütter think. The Austrian coach finds himself managing the playing time of Takumi Minamino, the most decisive Japanese and Monegasque attacking midfielder in 2024, and Aleksandr Golovin, one of, if not the best player in ASM this season. last. He must also adapt his system, first to 4-2-3-1, recently more to 4-4-2. A possible option because at the forefront of the attack, Folarin Balogun and Breel Embolo took over from Ben Yedder.

Ilenikhena, the great promise

“Folarin, I’m here to give him confidence”reassured Hütter while the American (23 years old) was down at the start of the season. He scored in the next two matches, against Le Havre and Montpellier. The ASM knows how to be patient. She can also afford it because she is running at full capacity, even though she has not played her last card, the promising George Ilenikhena, 18 years old and snatched for a little less than €20 million from Royal Antwerp this summer.

The Nigerian center forward, who came on during the game against Barça, scored his first goal to offer Monaco a prestigious victory. And confirm the problems of the rich of the princely club. “With the Champions League this season, we have eight more games. Everyone will have minutes, it’s an opportunity to involve everyone”Hütter promised. On the pitch at Dinamo Zagreb this Wednesday (9 p.m.), Monaco will have a new opportunity to get the ball rolling.