AS Monaco head to FC Metz on Saturday, desperate to end a run of three games without a win. The Principality club, having gone on a nine-game winning run in the league, have dropped points in each of their last three games, picking up just two points from a possible nine against Paris FC, AJ Auxerre, and Toulouse FC.
It leaves Monaco seventh in the league and six points back from Lille OSC, who currently occupy the final UEFA Champions League qualification place. Sébastien Pocognoli is well aware that Monaco’s destiny is not in their hands. “That we are from the UCL [places] is a reality,” said the Belgian in a press conference attended by Get French Football News.
However, he added, “There are other places and we have to count on ourselves to hope to get into the European places. I think that it is important for the club, for the players, for the supporters to continue to be on the European scene next season, so we will do everything to get there.”
Pocognoli calls on Monaco’s leaders to step up
And the key to turning around their form, with just three games remaining? “We have to rediscover unity and co-operation across 90 minutes,” said Pocognoli. He explained, “I think what our biggest strength has been in the best moments over the past months, is when we are on the same wavelength, we are formidable. We managed to be so over 90 minutes, and even if there was a little shortcoming, there was a teammate there to atone for the error, which meant that it wasn’t even relevant at the end of the match, because it was compensated. At the minute, there is a bit less of that, which means that in moments in matches, there is a complete lack of balance.”
Pocognoli added, “I think that the leadership can also explain this lack of consistency over the course of a match, where we have to remain neutral (emotionally) in these moments that are a bit more difficult. We managed that in past weeks, but not in more recent weeks, so we will try and get back to basics a bit in this regard.”
Monaco head to Metz on Saturday before concluding the season with a game against Lille (at the Stade Louis II) and a trip to face RC Strasbourg Alsace.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco
