AS Monaco: Road to Perfection

AS Monaco: Road to Redemption

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The hopeful Monaco fans

After a decent season, a stunning World Cup performance and a desperate call Monaco have sacked thier manager and let their two major stars leave. While the prersences of Claudio Ranieri, James Rodriguez and Falcao will be absent at Stade Louis II, there's an opportunity to prosper. With the experienced likes of Dimitar Berbatov and Joao Moutinho combined with the promising likes of Layvin Kurzawa and Geoffrey Kondogbia as well as the return of Champions League, there's chance to make their name known once more and with their new manager Sameer Khan, ''The Red and Whites'' can breath a new life.

The First Signings

New AS Monaco manager Sameer Khan has completed his first two signings for the club. Santiago Arias of Colombia from PSV and Charles N'Zogbia of France from Aston Villa. PSV and Arias agreed for a fee of five million pounds and after contract negotiations he was snapped up, but N'Zogbia had to force his way out of Aston Villa. Khan's first bid was rejected as Villa viewed N'Zogbia too valuable for the club but the French national was quick to show his feelings and reportedly stormed out of training after angry words with his manager. After the unrest Villa thought it was only right to let N'Zogbia to move on for five million pounds. While signing N'Zogbia revealed the opportunity to play in Europe was a big factor in his decision.

Another player who Khan was interested was Zakaria Bakkali of PSV but after the club rejected the bid, viewing Bakkali as a future star, Khan put down his intrest, despited Bakkali being prepared to make his way out, and opted for a more expreience N'Zogbia

''We cannot risk rushing the process''

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In his latest press conference AS Monaco Chairman Dmitry Rybolovlev has announced his plans for the future.

Dmitry Rybolovlev:

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This club is now the one to be associated with money, everyone knows we've got a lot of financial power and now we are expected to be at the top. With our money, we've purchased big stars, but after an average and trophyless season as well as encountering Uefa's FFP rules. Between 2011 and 2014 we've lost more than €45 million. In the future we don't want to lose so much money and be fined, instead we want to slowly invest into the club. We cannot risk rushing the process by pouring all our money at once and encountering another year of heavy losses. I have full trust in the current Monaco line-up and when necessary changes in the squad are needed we'll make them, but only at a reasonable price and knowing that the player will have a dedication to the club and not to be in it for the money. While the transfer budget will be cut down, our wages will be paid properly and we will continue to invest in this club. I look forward to the future!

The future for AS Monaco will be very interesting to see.

AUGUST REPORT

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18 year old Anthony Martial has started to make an impression

CHANOIS NIORTAIS 0-1 AS MONACO (FRIENDLY)
Joao Moutinho

US RAON-L'ETAPE 0-6 AS MONACO (FRIENDLY)
Lacina Traore, Geoffrey Kondogbia (x2), Charles N'Zogbia (x2), Anthony Martial

JUVENTUS 3-1 AS MONACO (FRIENDLY)
Joao Moutinho

AS MONACO 1-0 FC NANTES (LIGUE 1)
Anthony Martial

STADE RENNAIS 1-3 AS MONACO (LIGUE 1)
Dimitar Berbatov, Lacina Traore, Nabil Dirar

AS MONACO 1-2 OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE (LIGUE 1)
Valere Germain

EVIAN THONON GAILLARD 2-2 AS MONACO (LIGUE 1)
Nabil Dirar, Lucas Ocampos


Our friendlies were average we started off in the first match being sloppy and just holding out to a victory, and I expected much more of a challenge against Juventus, but I'm glad to see the team picking up six against l'Etape.

I am very pleased at the start to our season, we picked up back to back wins, before our form declined a little, especially not picking up the three against Evian, but the season has only started and our team has to gel together once more in different circumstances. We've got a long way to go.