Monaco wants to assert itself behind the Parisian locomotive

Monaco are attacking their first start to the season under the orders of Philippe Clement. After a reactionary 2021-2022 exercise, concluded with a high-level return phase to grab the podium, ASM still wants to grab the podium, and why not find second place behind Paris.

Overview of Monegasque ambitions before the first match of the season against Strasbourg, Saturday August 6 at 5 p.m.

The goal: finally direct qualification for the Champions League?

With one of the biggest budgets in the championship, ASM must assert itself as one of the essential forces behind PSG, which it can even tickle. After two seasons concluded on the third step of the podium, the Monegasques have their eyes above all riveted on the place of runner-up and direct qualification in the Champions League. “Llast season we fell to 15 seconds from 2nd place, so we will have to stay focused to make this exercise even more beautiful”declared Axel Disasi during the first pre-match press conference of the season.

For this, it will no longer only be necessary to rely on the cannonball return phases to which they have become accustomed in recent years, but to be constant. The challenge is above all to start the season well, unlike last year, when the club of the principality had experienced a phase going up and down (7th at the break).

Player to watch: Golovin, the rebirth of the Tsar?

Since his arrival in 2018, Aleksandr Golovin has alternated the brilliant and the disappointing in the red and white jersey. Best Monegasque passer in 2020-2021, the 26-year-old player has been affected by numerous injuries which have left him on the flank. Of his first four seasons spent on the Rock, he only spent one without a physical problem.

But if his physique decides to leave him alone, as his preparation suggests (already twice scorer), Golovin has everything to finally become the metronome of the Monegasque midfield. Technical and altruistic, the Russian, who can become one of the major players in the offensive sector, also knows how to sublimate himself to be a scorer in important moments.

The rookie: Takumi Minamino, liveliness and experience on the Rock

He was the first recruit, eagerly awaited by supporters, of a Monegasque transfer window until then animated by the departure with great fanfare of Aurélien Tchouaméni to Real Madrid. The Japanese Takumi Minamino settled in the principality at the end of June, and initialed a four-year contract with ASM. After two seasons at Liverpool (including six months on loan at Southampton), with whom he won everything but played little, the small attacking midfielder is relaunching his career in the French championship.

It reinforces an already sparkling offensive sector (Ben Yedder, Volland, Martins, Diop…). Fast and technical, the 27-year-old should bring a dynamic profile. Philippe Clement is also counting on him to pass on his experience to the group. “[Le coach] asked me to bring my experience to this group, made up of a lot of very good young people. In the approach to matches, in the management of emotions, I think I am able to bring all this to my teammates.”he assured during his presentation.

The 11 kind