Courageous, united then simply heroic on the way (3-2), a meeting which offered crazy emotions and will be remembered, the ASM will have to show at least as much values and strength of character this Thursday evening. to avoid the trap of ax matches and validate his ticket for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
The end of the game last Thursday, marked by the stormy duel between Diatta and Hincapié, was electric. The reunion also promises to be boiling because Bayer Leverkusen did not really live well to see Axel Disasi and the stunning Monegasques spoil the party in a BayArena which celebrated the carnival.
“More maturity and leadership”
A few minutes following the final whistle, Xabi Alonso was already promising a real fight on the way back: “We don’t need a miracle in Monaco but a good game. The advantage is that in their heads, they probably believe they are already qualified and that’s normal. We know what we have to do, which is to win there.”
However, since the post-World Cup recovery, no one has managed to beat AS Monaco (eight wins, three draws in all competitions), a club which has used, among other things, elimination in the Coupe de France once morest Rodez (2-2), a mishap, like a powerful electroshock.
“We grow as a team with the good but also the bad experiences. We pass milestones. It’s never a guarantee. It’s not because we’re undefeated that we can’t lose anymore. We have to be ready in all situations. The state of mind in people’s heads has changed a lot. There is a lot more maturity, leadership in difficult times. We are more united, we communicate better”analyzes Philippe Clement, a coach who sees his work started on his arrival in January 2022 bearing fruit and his speech being accepted by all.
The competition is healthy, the entire locker room involved and this state of mind reflects on the field where ASM does not let go, like its victory while in control at Brest on Sunday (1-2). Even fatigue and injuries (Maripan, Vanderson) are not stopping the good momentum for the moment, which will have to be extended on Sunday in the Côte d’Azur derby once morest Nice, and the promise of a great end to the season.
Not qualifying this Thursday evening, despite the advantage gleaned in the first leg, would obviously change the situation but Monaco knows how to avoid once morest the tenth in the Bundesliga, defeated this weekend in Mainz and probably orphaned by the international French Moussa Diaby (a decision will be made this morning), a disappointment comparable to that experienced this summer on the lawn of PSV Eindhoven.
“This goal doesn’t change anything. We have to play to win this match. When you calculate too much, it’s not good. It doesn’t work for us. It’s very dangerous to change everything. We can change the system, that, we know how to do but it is important that our philosophy remains the same”, warns Clement, who recovers for the meeting of the living forces with the returns in the group of Aguilar, Volland and Gelson.
The declaration
Photo MaxPPP and AFP.
“Of course we talked once more regarding the need to keep control of our emotions following the first round. The impressions are still very fresh. We learned a lot regarding our opponent but also regarding ourselves. We’ll see if we manage to do better tomorrow [ce jeudi]”, Xabi Alonso, coach of Bayer Leverkusen
The states
14. Monaco have always qualified for the next round of the European Cup (14 times out of 14) when they won the away leg. The most recent example dates from the summer of 2021 once morest Sparta Prague, in the third preliminary round of the Champions League (0-2 away, 3-1 at home).
3. During the three previous seasons when Monaco and Leverkusen met (each time in the group stage), ASM always saw their European adventure then end once morest Juventus (1997, 2014, 2016).
