Analysis: Rising star Aladji Bamba delivers superb midfield display in AS Monaco’s win vs Angers

Aladji Bamba delivered a composed and intelligent performance in AS Monaco’s dominant 2-0 victory against Angers SCO.

The academy graduate yet again shone from his defensive midfield station, putting in a polished body of work on both sides of the ball to further underline what an exceptional young player he is.

Looking right at home in the heart of the pitch, just like he has on many occasions this term since debuting back in August vs Le Havre, the 19-year-old was a confident and commanding presence throughout.

Consistently looking to progress attacks and heavily involved in ASM’s possession phases, he was instrumental in organising sequences and getting the ball into Monaco’s dangerous offensive weapons, as there was much to like about his considered distribution.

Knowing when to slow things down and speed play up, his maturity, decision-making, reading of the play and game IQ were on full display, with him admirably helping his team dictate proceedings.

This was aided by his continuous scanning of his surroundings so he knew where opponents, teammates and spaces were to elevate his capacity for making fine judgement calls in a host of scenarios he was confronted with. This meant he could form numerical and positional superiorities for his team to bypass Angers’ shape as well.

His dovetailing with central midfield partner Lamine Camara was a highlight too, for they alternated brilliantly when one would drop deep and one pushed on, plus worked well together defensively to aid in ensuring the side maintained compactness.

To focus further on his work with the ball at his feet, his tidy passing over short, medium and longer distances was on point, ensuring he switched the angle of attacks and recycled possession crisply. Also choosing when to play the more risky passes, such as intricate layoffs and line-breaking passes, he did so comfortably.

Extra upside could also be extracted from his crafty dribbling, which saw him weave out of danger smartly to evade pressure and outfox foes with some nifty changes of pace and direction. Another key aspect was how the man with a wonderful first touch and close control used his strength and rangy arms to remain balanced to ride challenges. The way he adjusted his body posture prior to receiving was impressive as well, allowing him to protect the ball or let it roll to deceive markers on the dribble.

Meanwhile, on the defensive end, his impact was felt through his clever and determined harrying, as he got tight to adversaries to force rushed decisions and limit their time on the ball and waited for the ideal moment to jump.

Using his long legs to reach in effectively, Bamba stepped in to not only block passing lanes but also to impede the momentum of advancing attackers, on a night where his physicality, combined with his sharp anticipation, allowed him to poke the ball away or shepherd opponents into less menacing areas.

Timing his interventions well to regain possession and halt transitions before they developed into serious threats, his stopping efforts were integral towards ASM banking their fourth clean sheet in their last six league encounters.

The statistics reinforced the impression he made on the pitch. Bamba recorded 40 completed passes, hit six successful passes into the final third and created two chances. He also recovered the ball five times and won two aerial duels to cap a multifaceted showing.

Relishing being back in the fold after injury scuppered his momentum earlier in the campaign, he cut a content figure when he spoke afterwards. “I started playing at the beginning of the season, then I got injured. It took me a while to come back, but I kept working hard and I’m maintaining that level. I have confidence in myself, and, on the pitch, I try to repay the coach’s faith. I’m a young player, so everyone in the locker room talks to me: Thilo Kehrer, Denis Zakaria and Lamine Camara, even though he’s young too. Eric Dier also gives me a lot of advice, so I take everything I’m given,” he explained.

“I feel good. I have a lot of experienced players around me; they give me advice and confidence. I was developed here, I’ve always loved this club, so I feel comfortable. With the matches and playing regularly, I have more energy to put in the effort. I can be in duels as well as between the lines; it’s not a problem for me.”

Sébastien Pocognoli rightfully heaped praise on Bamba, as he’s seen definite signs of improvement from the gifted ace as the season’s rolled on. “He had a difficult start when I arrived, as he was coming back from injury and wasn’t playing much. He was still finding his feet compared to my expectations, so he worked very hard. I was tough on him in training, then patient, and we worked with him individually to improve his ball control and attacking play. He’s an unusual player, very tall with a long wingspan, so he had to work on his ball control and passing, and he’s also improved a lot in terms of aggression,” stated the ASM boss.

“When I say I have a plan for every player, I had one for Aladji too; it just took a little longer. But now he’s mature, he’s ready, and it’s no coincidence that he started against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, because he deserved it and he was ready, which is why he responded so well! We know that young players often experience ups and downs, and there will certainly be some, but I hope for as long as possible. We’re trying to manage him well, and today he delivered again.”

Proving he can step up when called upon and produce the goods, the talented youngster looks poised to keep making waves for Monaco. With his composure, work rate and offensive and defensive output continuing to shine, all the signs point toward a remarkably bright future as he keeps along his upward trajectory.