Monaco-Lille: fiery attack and podium in sight, ASM or a great season not to be (above all) wasted

In the United States, we call it “being clutch”, that is to say being present in hot moments, when the pressure reaches its peak. So far, AS Monaco ticks the boxes. Since February 11, ASM has won in Nice (2-3), in Lens (2-3), stood up to PSG (0-0), beat Rennes (1-0) and offered Brest (0-2) to become runner-up to the Parisian leader in Ligue 1. Almost faultless against top 7 clubs. There is one left to play for Monaco. Lille, 4th, would be relegated six points behind ASM in the event of a defeat on Wednesday evening (9 p.m.). And would then have little hope of catching up with the princely club, anchored on the podium synonymous with qualification for the group stage of the Champions League.

This would be a great reward for ASM, which chose Adi Hütter last summer to succeed Philippe Clement on the bench. “My goal is always to see my team play forward, to create chances,” explained the Austrian coach on Tuesday at a press conference. It was served: Monaco has the best attack in L1 behind PSG (55 goals in 29 matches, or 1.89 goals/match). “I am very happy with the work we do on a daily basis,” appreciated the former coach of Mönchengladbach in Germany.

The foundations of the game that Hütter (54 years old) wishes to instill have been laid. The possibility of variation exists, and the Austrian uses it. Against Brest, he swapped his defense with four for one with three “because Brest is the best team in Ligue 1 on crosses”. Paid. There are certainly still wheels to grease, Monaco concedes a lot (38 goals). The background is no less promising, and without a European Cup on the program, the team led by its captain Wissam Ben Yedder is on the verge of fulfilling the contract.

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We still have to overcome the Lille obstacle. LOSC, 4th, remains like Monaco with three victories in a row in L1. His elimination in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League by Aston Villa last Thursday was “a difficult page to turn,” admitted goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier. Hence the relief of the victory, even laborious, against Strasbourg on Sunday (1-0). “A decisive moment of the season,” said coach Paulo Fonseca.

The Dogues, for their part, relied on a solid defensive base (25 goals conceded), although a little more cracked since the end of winter. More generally, Lille seems to be sticking its tongue out. “I have the impression that the match against Aston Villa was still just a while ago, whether physically or mentally, it was trying for everyone,” said Chevalier on Sunday. Masterfully managed by Fonseca, the Lille group is playing big.

A victory and Lille would be the new runner-up to PSG. A defeat combined with a victory for Nice in Marseille on Wednesday and LOSC would only have two points ahead of the Aiglons, 5th and virtually qualified for the Europa League. “I want the group to stay focused on the next match, also because it is not good to have this pressure of the goal on the players,” dismissed Fonseca.

Same story in the bowels of the Louis-II stadium. “No, it’s not a final. Behind that, there will still be four important matches,” recalled Hütter. Monaco will continue with a trip to Lyon on Sunday (7 p.m.) and will finish with the reception of Nantes, which will perhaps play a role in its survival. Lille will also face OL the following weekend (May 6) and will conclude with Nice, in a potential final shock for Europe.