‘Show character’ is Jardim’s plea
FRENCH CHAMPIONS 12 POINTS OFF THE PACE Another blow as Tielemans is to have knee surgery.
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said his faltering French champions need players “with character” after slipping 12 points behind runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
The Principality side made a strong start to the domestic season despite seeing their title-winning side decimated in the transfer window, with Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Kylian Mbappe and Tiemoue Bakayoko all leaving the club.
But back-to-back defeats by PSG and Nantes have left Monaco languishing in fourth place, while last season’s Champions League semifinalists were also dumped out of Europe with a 4-1 home loss to RB Leipzig last week.
“At this difficult moment, we need players with character, with experience,” Jardim said Thursday ahead of today’s match against lowly Angers.
“They are important to bring us a little more desire.”
Without teenage sensation Mbappe, who left on loan to title rivals PSG ahead of a €180 million move next year, Radamel Falcao has shouldered the goalscoring burden, while summer signing Stevan Jovetic has struggled with form and fitness.
Falcao has managed 13 goals in just 12 league games this term, but has not scored in his last two outings, and Jardim knows his other forwards have to step up.
“It’s completely different when he plays with another striker,” said the Portuguese coach.
“That gives more space to Falcao, as we did last season and at the beginning of this season.”
Monaco suffered another setback on Wednesday, with the news that Belgium international midfielder Youri Tielemans would need knee surgery.
PSG’s front line of Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Mbappe have looked unstoppable for much of this season, although the league leaders had to wait until the 73rd minute to break down a stubborn Troyes in midweek.
But world-record signing Neymar and Cavani both scored late on, despite the Uruguayan’s first-half penalty miss, to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 2-0 win that pulled them 10 points clear of second-placed Marseille.
The three are unlikely to start together for today’s game at newly-promoted Strasbourg, though. – AFP