Eager to steer AS Monaco back to winning ways as the season enters its decisive stretch, coach Sébastien Pocognoli faced the media to outline his plans for Saturday’s trip to Toulouse in what will be an extremely tough fixture.
Toulouse test
In assessing what awaits his side at the Stadium de Toulouse, the ASM boss offered a detailed analysis of the club’s progress and identity.
“This is a team that has been stable for several years, with an established playing system and a stable model at the club level, both on and off the pitch. It’s a club that is progressing and is where it should be because Toulouse is a big name and a beautiful city with great potential. I expect a good match between two teams that play a well-defined style of football. We didn’t have an easy match at home (a 1-0 victory), so their current form doesn’t really matter, because I think the match will be unrelated to that, against a team that will exploit the opponent’s weaknesses to the fullest,” he insisted.
Starting issues
From there, the discussion shifted to Monaco’s start to their matches, an area Pocognoli believes still needs tightening as the crusade reaches its final phase, stating: “There are always areas to focus on from one week to the next, and there’s a consistent trend here: we’re less proactive in certain areas. Against Auxerre, we had 10 to 15 minutes of good play, where we were following the game plan we wanted to create and generating the first chances. But after the first goal, our intensity dropped in all areas of the game, and our tactical discipline also declined. Do we need to rethink everything? I think it’s something we need to consider and discuss. Being present in the opening minutes of a match also depends on the momentum of our training week and our discipline. So that’s what I’ve been focusing on: what more we can do to be more focused from the very first minute.
“This is a factor that the players need to take into account by implementing daily discipline. It hasn’t diminished in this instance, but perhaps we need to continue focusing on the areas where we’re not doing things as well and maintain positive pressure to achieve our ambitions. Against Auxerre, we started the match with some technical errors, a bit like in Paris, so that affects the team, especially if we’re mentally fragile. On the other hand, when we’re on our game in that area, we have some very good moments of football. I think we’re improving overall in terms of ball control and positioning, as evidenced by the fact that we’re creating quite a few opportunities in tight spaces that require a lot of technical precision. Everything isn’t perfect, but we’re working on the fundamentals.”
Inconsistency
The talented manager also addressed the topic of inconsistency, as his words were full of insight regarding this.
“This isn’t a new issue; it’s been the case for the last two or three years, based on my analysis of the club. The same things keep recurring, leading to inconsistent seasons where we sometimes manage to secure a playoff spot right at the end. But this year, securing that spot is more difficult. We’re working on this inconsistency, and it’s something I absolutely must address for next year, because we can’t afford another season like this. But it’s a good thing, because I’m conducting a thorough analysis of how we can improve this,” he told the media.
“It can be done structurally, by focusing on player profiles and also by maintaining this discipline every day in training. We need to push the players to have the mentality where every second they’re ready to deliver. It’s a process, and it’s already much better than at the start of the season, even if we sometimes have dips in form. And then it also relates to leadership, something that needs to be stimulated because we sometimes have absences at that level, whether it be at the technical or personality level.”
Squad update
Pocognoli then provided an update on his squad, as he shared the latest on injuries, those returning and the thinking behind recent selection choices.
“Caio (Henrique) has trained partially, but he’ll be able to rejoin the group for a longer period next week. Stanis (Idumbo) needs shoulder surgery, and Kassoum (Ouattara) hasn’t resumed running on the pitch. Golo? He trained normally this week, after managing his adductors last week. Ansu (Fati) responded well in the second half against Auxerre, reflecting the team’s performance, and Golo came on well afterward, so we have several options. Paul (Pogba)? There’s a structure in place; I’m in charge of the on-field aspects, and so far we’ve adhered to it,” acknowledged the Belgian.
Away trips vital
Looking ahead to the pivotal trips to firstly Toulouse and then Metz, and Pocognoli stressed the importance of mentality and the need for his players to embrace the high stakes of the campaign’s closing stages.
“The players know it’s now or never! I challenged them in the second half of the season with a chart highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of this second phase, to get them into a competitive mindset. And to make them realistic about what they’re doing, because sometimes young players train well but don’t realise all the good things they’ve done. It’s true that we tend to forget what’s happening in football quite quickly. This chart doesn’t have the same value today with the last two results, given that we’re behind on points and can’t afford any more mistakes. I told them to focus on the game first and that the standings will follow by being disciplined, rigorous and giving their all in the last four matches! We’ll see where that takes us and what our rivals will or won’t leave behind, and we’ll do the maths at the end,” said the 38-year-old.
Winning a must
With the press conference formalities complete, the focus moves to the pitch and Monaco’s attempt to rediscover their winning form and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
