C1: Eliesse Ben Seghir, between promises and reality

After a last season marred by debilitating thigh and shoulder injuries, Eliesse Ben Seghir intends to make up for lost time. Also, confident in himself, he reveals his personal objectives without fear.

“I always set the bar high, I want to try and make a double ten. I know it’s complicated, that it hasn’t often been done in L1. I will try to do my best,” he says, between confidence and humility.

Launched into the deep end two years ago against Belgrade (4-1), at 17 years and 8 months, by Philippe Clement, predecessor of Adi Hütter, Ben Seghir especially attracted attention from his first appearance in L1, by scoring a doubled in one half at Auxerre (3-2, December 28, 2022).

In the process, the native of Gassin (Var), who arrived in the Principality at the age of 15, was named best player of the Maurice-Revello Tournament in Toulon, played alongside Leny Yoro, Warren Zaire-Emery and Mathys Tel.

Expanded palette, levels reached

Today, and despite his physical problems, he has already played 50 matches with Monaco (including 42 in L1 and 6 in Europe), where he extended his contract until 2027, last January when he was injured in his shoulder. .

Since March, he has even been a Moroccan international. After an Olympic break where he won bronze, coach Walid Regragui is starting to use him a lot. In six caps, Ben Seghir has scored three goals (including a double in October) and given an assist.

Choosing definitively the selection for which he would play from now on “did him a lot of good”, assures the man who had played with the French under-20 team. “I have the confidence of the coach. It allowed me to free my mind. Because it is always complicated to play with a difficult choice to make. It also made me mature. Because I entered a World Cup semi-finalist group.

Ben Seghir broadens his “palette” in the selection, where “Achraf Hakimi and Nayef Aguerd” welcomed him “very well”. And he reached “levels” in Monaco. “I also have the confidence of the coach, the staff. I’m going there without stopping.”

“However, he remains a young player”, who must “stay healthy” to achieve his goals, insists Hütter. “To feel better about myself, I try to progress in this area,” replies the person concerned. “I took a personal physiotherapist. And if I can stay to provide care, I do it.”

Defend better, be more decisive

At the same time, Hütter imposed three areas of improvement on him: making better decisions with the ball, improving his defensive replacement work, and being more efficient.

Concerning the first, the Monegasque technician explains: “his dribbling is incredible but when faced with a midfield block, it is sometimes dangerous. Eliesse knows it. “He has to learn when to dribble, when to do a one-two, when to serve a teammate in a better position.”

The player is more concerned about his defensive obligations. “Even after a counterattack, you have to come back and help,” he says. “This is the season where I defend the most.”

However, that doesn’t stop Hütter from pushing him. “He reminded me that great players were decisive, that we also had to help the team with statistics. I try to do the best I can.”

So far, it’s two goals and two assists. We are far from a 10-10. However, “Eliesse is young and talented. Young people dream, I let them dream. But, above all, there is work to be done,” smiles Hütter, who concludes: “if he achieves his objectives, we will be very happy. He’s on track, in good shape, and helping the team defend well. He has already taken a very big step in this direction.