first act for Monaco by Philippe Clement

«I never really get stress, I’m kinda curious“: For his first at the head of Monaco, Sunday (5:05 pm) in Nantes, Belgian coach Philippe Clement is eager to see how his group, even reduced, will react to its principles. Since taking up his post on Tuesday to replace Niko Kovac, Philippe Clement has had little time to prepare for this trip. Above all, he had to deal with a complex health situation. Seven players (Diop, Fofana, Disasi, Matsima, Badiashile, Lucas and Marcelin) tested positive for Covid on resumption. Wissam Ben Yedder, positive later in the week, is forfeited.

While some, such as Diop and Badiashile, are operational, others, such as Disasi or Fofana, were still training apart on Friday. Not to mention the more or less serious injuries, such as Golovin and Boadu, absent from collective training two days before the match. “We have a few players with problems, a lot of youngsters in training, but it’s interesting to see everyoneClement downplayed, in correct French, but speaking in English as soon as he refined his speech.

The Belgian does not add to the current health situation. “We have the chance to do our job, he emphasizes. Our job is to adapt. I don’t like negativity, apologies, all that».

“Preud’homme and Guardiola”

Also, true to his principles, he intends to see his players in action from Sunday. “I want to play in a dominant and offensive way», Announces the former assistant of Michel Preud’homme, who was a model in Bruges. “In Belgium, it was him, but I also appreciate what Guardiola is doing since Barça», Adds this native of Antwerp.

«I have often analyzed his matchesHe continues. “I had the chance to discuss at length with him after our oppositions. It was very interesting. But do not think that we will play like Manchester City in Nantes! In a few months, I hope that we will see some evolutions in our game and that we will do great things.».

In the meantime, the ex-technician of Club Bruges is not starting from a blank page. With Niko Kovac, Monaco remains on three wins, three draws and one defeat in Paris (2-0) in seven days. “There are good fundamentals, says Clement. I respect Niko’s work but each coach has his ideas. We change little things in training. We especially need to improve our attacking game».

I like it when there is a lot of intensity and my workouts are longer than in other clubs. It will help the players.

Philippe Clement

For this, he and his three assistants, Frédéric De Boever, goalkeeper coach, Jonas Ivens, specialist in physical preparation, and Johan Van Rumst, also arrived from Bruges, densified the sessions. “The first ones were hard», Recognizes Clement. “But this is no surprise. In Bruges, the recruits also had to adapt. I like it when there is a lot of intensity and my workouts are longer than in other clubs. It will help the players. They will feel it later».

“In an emergency you get nervous”

For his method to work, he knows that he will need, beyond the support of his management, the total support of his group and, above all, very rapid results. However, at the end of the Kovac era, the level and attitude of certain executives, such as Aleksandr Golovin, Gelson Martins, Caio Henrique, even Wissam Ben Yedder, suggested a cracked unity.

Clement will therefore focus on “create a familyWith his players. He predicts “a lot of good times and most importantly a lot of points». If he states that “the project is not over 2 or 3 weeks“, If he knows that”no coach can change everything in four daysHe is especially impatient.

«I’m curious to see what we are putting in place in the field compared to what we have worked onHe said. I never really have any stress. I’m curious”. In order to qualify for the Champions League, Monaco, 29 points, must move up four places and regain seven points in Marseille, 2nd in L1, by the end of April. For Clement, however, there is no urgency. “In an emergency you get nervous, you make mistakes, he concludes. It’s not good! You have to go step by step».