We don’t know what they were talking about, but we still have a little idea. At the time of the lap of honor reserved for the former Monegasques, Saturday evening at the Louis-II, Leonardo Jardim and Arsène Wenger brought up the rear for a long time and chatted. These two must have had a lot to say to each other. Normal, between two glorious coaches crowned on the Rock. A few hours earlier, the 50-year-old Portuguese, champion of France in 2017 with ASM, happily looked back on this beautiful period of his career on the rooftop of the La Turbie training center. He also shared his technician’s vision of the current squad and the rich season that lies ahead.
How does it feel to be here for this centenary?
I am proud and happy to come here with all these people who make the history of AS Monaco. Coaches, players, presidents… It’s a wonderful moment of sharing. There are a lot of people, players that I haven’t trained like Ludo Giuly…
What does AS Monaco mean to you?
I am Portuguese but Monaco remains my favorite club. I support Monaco more than other clubs because I worked there for five years. I have a house here, my son has lived here all his life… It’s the club I have the greatest relationship with.
“In 2017, we had a complete team”
When we see you, we inevitably think of this title of French champion in 2017…
Yes, but it’s not just the title. I am one of the Monaco coaches who have managed the most matches (270, 1). We have always played for the Ligue 1 podium; international matches against Arsenal, Tottenham, City or Dortmund; we won the championship with a great Paris Saint-Germain…
You had built a fantastic team!
This title in 2017 rewarded three years of work. In 2014 we brought in a lot of young players. Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva, Lemar, Fabinho… They have all evolved. Then Kylian (Mbappé) left the academy, we kept players that the club had bought like Moutinho or Falcao, others who were coming up from the second division like Dirar, Raggi or Subasic… We made a complete, solid team . We finished with 95 points, scored more than 100 goals (107)… It was fantastic. But beyond the season, I especially remember a period. We were able to use a lot of players trained at the club and sell well.
Your vision of the current team and its attractive game?
I’ve already watched two games this season. It’s a young but very well organized team, with a lot of quality players and talent. I think they are going to have a very good season.
Do you think she’s armed enough to do well in the Champions League?
I think. Of course, it’s not easy to win the Champions League but you have to have that hope, believe that it’s possible. I think it’s possible to qualify for the Top 8. But it might be easier to play to win the championship.
“Zagreb? Stay focused with the right mentality”
Akliouche and Ben Seghir, you must like it!
Yes, I really like talented players. It reminds me a little of Bernardo Silva or Lemar, this style of players in percussion, with dribbling ability, a good shot… Ben Seghir scored a beautiful goal against Le Havre. I think these two talents will be difficult for Monaco to keep in the future.
They defend hard, it’s quite rare for young players…
It’s true, it’s an education. In our time, Bernardo and Lemar also defended a lot in the corridor, they did not stay in front. Top players must have this defensive attitude. It’s not easy to play if you don’t defend when you lose the ball. You can have a player like that in the team, but if you have more, it’s difficult to play at a high level.
Could the match in Zagreb this Wednesday be a trap after the success against Barcelona?
After a victory against a team like Barcelona, the level of concentration can be a little lower while the opponent comes motivated. Sometimes they are a little more difficult matches, yes. This is why players must stay focused with the right mentality.
What would you say to the group at a time like this?
I would say: “Oh, we won against Barcelona but there were 10 of them.” I would devalue the victory against Barcelona a little to stay strong for that match (smile).
1. Arsène Wenger has some 350 matches, a few more than Lucien Leduc.
Photo Jean-François Ottonello
Legend: Coaching discussions between Leonardo Jardim and Rolland Courbis.
