Monaco claim first French title

TEENAGE star Kylian Mbappe (above) helped Monaco secure their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years with his 15th goal of the season in yesterday’s 2-0 victory at home to SaintEtienne.

The 18-year-old raced clear of the visiting defence to nervelessly roll in the opening goal after 19 minutes at the Stade Louis II as Paris Saint-Germain’s four-year reign as French champions came to an end. Valere Germain added a second with the final kick of the match.

“We can finally say we are champions. I’m very proud of this team, of these players. It’s a dream for me, I’m very happy,” Monaco captain Radamel Falcao told Canal+.

Leonardo Jardim’s side were effectively guaranteed the title after Sunday’s 4-0 win over Lille due to their vastly superior goal difference and needed just a point to secure an eighth league crown.

Monaco’s 11th straight victory bumped them up to 92 points, six ahead of PSG, and they can match the capital club’s single-season record of 30 wins in tomorrow’s final game at Rennes.

“We’ve been able to hold on all the way against teams like Paris and Nice who kept up with the pace until the end,” said Mbappe.

“Unfortunately for them but luckily for us, we’re the ones leaving with the trophy.”

Not since Claude Puel guided a squad featuring Fabien Barthez, David Trezeguet and Willy Sagnol to the 1999-2000 title had Monaco been crowned kings of France.

Saint-Etienne held Monaco to a 1-1 draw in October, but Christophe Galtier’s side arrived in the principality low on confidence after their 5-0 thrashing by PSG and decimated by injury.

Mbappe’s meteoric rise this season has seen him torment some of Europe’s leading clubs and it was hardly surprising the teenager made the crucial breakthrough after a cautious start.

Monaco were far from their free-flowing best which had seen them become just the fifth team to rack up over 100 goals in a French season. – AFP