What's gone wrong at AS Monaco?
AS Monaco are in absolute shambles right now. They've won 3 league games and lost 13 this year. They currently sit at 19th in the table and things aren't looking up for them. It is very surprising to see such a successful club, which won the Ligue 1 in the 16/17 season stand a real chance of being relegated this year.
The start was very rocky for the French club which led to the sacking of manager Leonardo Jardim. They went on to hire Thierry Henry to turn around the club's fortunes. But things got only worse.
Monaco won only two league games in the past three months under the legendary striker. He was fired in a few months too. And in a bizarre turn of events, Jardim was re-hired to salvage their season! Despite having lost his match against Dijon, Leonardo Jardim's second stint at the club cannot be rated until a couple more number of matches are played. What is certain though, is that Monaco don't have much time left.
But where exactly did things go wrong for the French club?
Here's a list of things that are causing the downfall of Monaco.
Departures of key players
AS Monaco, just like Ajax has a reputation for being a selling club. Many of their promising starlets leave every season, but seemingly the departures this year have drastically affected the club.
The departure of attacking midfielder Thomas Lemar, defensive midfielder Fabinho, experienced midfielder Joao Moutinho and underrated central defender Terrence Kongolo has clearly shaken their club. A departure of good players would shake up any club. But these players were integral to Monaco's style and thus the effect has been fatal.
Except for the arrival of Benjamin Henrichs from Bayer Leverkusen, none of the signings have failed to make a huge impact in the first team. Thierry Henry seems to have recruited Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Schalke 04's experienced defender Naldo for this reason, but positive results haven't arrived yet.
With an average squad age being 24.6, they have a relatively inexperienced squad that has not been able to rise to the occasion this season.
The absence of young prospects Willem Geubbels, Pietro Pellegrini, last season's second top goalscorer Rony Lopes, defender Kamil Gilk and Croatia's World Cup hero Danijel Subasic due to injuries did not help either.