Pitifully, the once great and promising As Monaco of France Ligue 1 are on the verge of being relegated back to Ligue 2 after staying in the top flight for just half a decade.
As Monaco finished a disastrous 2010/2011 campaign in the France Ligue 1 and were relegated to Ligue 2. They returned to Ligue 1 in 2013 and it came as a result of the takeover by Russian Billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev. Claudio Raineri was hired and given the task of promoting the team back to Ligue 1. With enough funds at his beck and call, Raineri bought several key players and it took him just a tenure on the bench to take the team back to Ligue 1 but those hard works of his are about to be undone as they currently sit 19th in the table.
As Monaco began their quest of snatching the Ligue 1 trophy away from Paris Saint Germain and they succeeded in the year 2016/2017. A French Ligue 1 trophy won with a mouthwatering 95points accumulated, with 107 goals scored and 31 goals conceived in a season and a semifinal halt in the Uefa Champions League was brought about as a result of a rejuvenated Radamael Falcao, a bright and electrifying Kylian Mbappe who rose to limelight from the Monaco youth team, a solid midfield featuring Fabinho, Joao Moutinho, Bakayoko, to name just a few, as they all lit Europe.
THE LOSSES AFTER THE TRIUMPH
AS Monaco lifted the Ligue 1 trophy and reached the semi-final of the Uefa Champions League with Leonardo Jardim at the helm of affairs, and after that promising season from the French club, Kylian Mbappe left on loan to Paris Saint Germain, Bakayoko left for Chelsea, Bernardo Silva left to Manchester City with fears he might be converted to left back, Benjamin Mendy left for Manchester City. These exits by key players that played crucial roles in their title triumph the past season affected Monaco badly that they finished second the next season with lower goals scored, higher goals conceded and lower points accumulated as opposed to the season before.
The 2018/19 has seen more free fall of the Billionaire's team, as Fabinho left in the summer to Liverpool, Kylian Mbappe was fully disclosed as a Paris Saint Germain player, Joao Moutinho left for Wolves Wanderers and the bright, promising and upcoming youngster Thomas Lemar was snatched by Atletico Madrid. What Jardim or whoever was at the helm of transfer affairs at the club was thinking is still stupefying to many, if As Monaco is simply a business club or a club that breeds stars or a team for trophies is a question that has remain unanswered.
THE END OF THE ROAD FOR LEONARDO JARDIM AND THE BEGINNING FOR THIERRY HENRY..
The sacking of Leonardo Jardim appeared inevitable after winless runs and Monaco facing being relegated come end of season. Thierry Henry was appointed manager and after five games, it doesn't look like he is the Moses that will lead them through the wilderness to the promise land. Henry has overseen five matches without a win, to continue the disastrous winless run of the club since August 11, 2018.
The recent Uefa Champions League 4-0 loss at the hands of Belgian team, Club Brugge in front of their own fans continued their consecutive run of matches without a win since August 11 and served as their heaviest ever loss in an Europe competition. They looked weak and vulnerable in virtually every position on the pitch. The inexperience in the squad was laid bare once again for the world to see that As Monaco needs to visit the transfer market for more quality players.
It would be far too cruel to blame Thierry Henry for the continued poor run of form, the French man is just few weeks into the job and needs time to adjust a few things..
Selling their highly spirited stars without replacing them with adequate players has been the greatest mistake of AS Monaco, as the team that courageously snatched the Ligue 1 title away from reigning champions Paris Saint Germain would be very hard to replace and rebuild.
THANKS FOR READING..
Comments