Reaction: Pocognoli reflects on AS Monaco debut

Sébastien Pocognoli’s first game as AS Monaco manager ended in frustration, as his side were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw away at Angers – a result that extended Monaco’s winless run to three league matches and saw them miss the chance to move into third place in the Ligue 1 standings.

Despite showing signs of Pocognoli’s style being adhered to, Monaco weren’t as convincing as hoped. The Belgian coach now switches his focus to the club’s huge upcoming Champions League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Reflections

Although not satisfied when speaking afterwards, Pocognoli remained upbeat and extracted the positives.

“Mathematically, we’re disappointed. We wanted to win tonight; that was the idea we came with. Angers played a good match; they were disciplined and played with a lot of heart and a good structure. Both teams created quite a few chances, so the draw, unfortunately for us, is a result that could have been logical. It could have gone either way in the end,” he explained.

“From a footballing perspective, given the short time we had together with the players, there were a lot of very positive things, especially in terms of attitude. I saw players who fought. They tried to implement the principles we’ve been working on in recent days, and our chances and the goal stemmed from that. Unfortunately, we were stereotyped at times; we could have looked for a little more depth. Not everything was perfect, but there were some positives in the execution of the game plan.”

Style implementation

Upon reflecting on how his side implemented his philosophy, his thoughts were full of insight, even if he’s aware there’s plenty of room for refinement.

“It’s a new system. I saw a good application against a low block, so the most difficult type of match to execute this style of play. At times, we could have made that forward pass, that’s what we have to keep working on, and the goal represents exactly what we want to do. The pressing was good, the second ball and the third ball less good, but it would have been too good if everything was perfect, and we should not underestimate a trip here against a team that needs points and who showed good opposition today,” insisted the 39-year-old.

Philosophy

When quizzed about his principles, he provided a measured and thoughtful approach.

“It’s simple: with the ball, we want to give the ball carrier as many passing opportunities as possible, so we need a certain tactical discipline on the pitch. It takes patience, courage and individual quality to combine in these tight spaces. Maghnes (Akliouche) did it well, as did Ansu (Fati) and Takumi (Minamino) at times. With the players present at the end of the match, we could have played more in depth and forced Angers to play deeper,” observed the former Union Saint-Gilloise boss.

He then added this on how his system was applied vs Angers, stating: “Today was a first step; there were some good things. Now I’m going to focus on the individual aspect first. But given the quality of the group, once everything is in place and the players are used to the intensity of training, initiative, confidence and mental strength will allow us to take a step forward.”

Caio Henrique

Next on the list was his opinion on how Caio Henrique fared operating in a deeper and more central defensive role, not in his usual wide station.

“I think Caio had a good match, defensively more than adequate. He was very comfortable with the ball, but that’s no surprise. In the second half, he was a little more wide, but it’s proof that this system can be adapted thanks to the players’ animation. He had a good match,” Pocognoli noted.

“In the second half, we were more with four defenders at the back. It depends on the players’ profiles, the pace and the opposition. We asked Caio to be more wide to position himself between the lines, which worked well. We’ll also have the return of the injured players, but in any formation, it’s up to me to find the best profiles and the complementarity between the players to evolve in the way I want.”

Late concession

Clearly annoyed by the late concession that allowed Angers to earn a draw, his disappointment was evident, with him commenting: “I’m frustrated, yes, because defensively we were disciplined, even if Angers created a few chances, it was often on the counter. That could have rewarded Philipp Köhn’s good performance as well. But what I remember most is that there was a great desire to defend well and protect our goal.”

Busy times ahead

Knowing full well what a hectic schedule lies ahead for ASM, all eyes now turn to their huge fixture with Spurs for Pocognoli and his outfit, who will need to juggle his squad smartly.

“It’s a challenge, but I think we have to take the positives from today. We don’t have much time, and video analysis work will be as important as training. Now we have to think about Tottenham, against whom we’ll play with our strengths and do our best to get a good result,” he acknowledged.

Key figures

Lastly, the newly installed manager touched on how key Takumi Minamino and Folarin Balogun are for his plans, asserting: “We know Taki’s play between the lines and Balo’s ability to take on depth. I’m very happy, and that’s why I’m counting on all the depth on my bench.”

Spurs test

While their encounter with Angers didn’t go as desired, Wednesday’s colossal test with Thomas Frank’s Spurs gives Pocognoli’s Monaco an ideal opportunity to bounce back and claim a coveted victory. There’d be no better way to breathe life into the Belgian’s reign.