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Opinion

Sébastien Pocognoli's Monaco shut up shop

When Sébastien Pocognoli arrived at AS Monaco, the Principality club had yet to keep a clean sheet this season. The Belgian's work on the defensive sector has quickly become evident.
L. ENTWISTLE
Published on 10/27/2025 at 12:30
3-minute read
Pocognoli's Monaco have kept two clean sheets in their last three matches

When Sébastien Pocognoli arrived at AS Monaco, the Principality club had yet to keep a clean sheet this season. The Belgian's work on the defensive sector has quickly become evident.

A streak of shaky defensive displays

Prior to last week, Monaco's last clean sheet in any competition dated back to a 2-0 win over Lyon on 10th May. It is the club's poor recent defensive record that, at least in part, put paid to Adi Hutter's time on the toucline at the Stade Louis II.

Les Monégasques may be an attacking juggernaut, and have only failed to score in one Ligue 1 McDonald's game this season (versus Lille in August), but it was their inability to keep the ball out of the net at the other end that saw results slide. 

Upon arriving, Pocognoli pointed out many things that needed changing. The former Union Saint-Gilloise manager identified the squad's fitness as an issue, especially given the high-intensity, all-action style that he wished to impose in the Principality. In his presentation, he made his intentions clear, advocating for a "pleasant" style of football, which naturally involves trying to dominate opponnents and getting on the front foot. 

But it is instead in defence where his work with the squad has been most evident. His side hardly gave Tottenham Hotspur a sniff in midweek, as Vicario's heroics between the sticks allowed the Premier League side to escape the Principality with a point (0-0). 

And that defensive solidity was on show once again on Saturday as Toulouse came to town. Chances were very much at a premium for Carles Martinez Novell's side, who created just 0.58xG, testing Philipp Kohn with just two shots in the game. The Swiss goalkeeper has now kept two clean sheets within the space of four days. Clean sheets are like London buses in Monaco, you wait months for one and then two come at the same time.

Salisu steps up for Monaco

"We have managed to make the most of these first 10 days," said Pocognoli on Saturday, who evoked the change in style and in system. That has entailed a shift to a back three, which regardless of the personnel, has brought extra solidity. There has been a balance that has been rediscovered and a structure, too, which in the final weeks of Hutter's reign, had certainly become less discernable. 

But beyond the collective, there are the individuals who must also perform. Mohammed Salisu has certainly stepped up in recent weeks. Not only did he net the only goal of the game against Toulouse, he also marshalled the defence, and against Tottenham in midweek, he made a couple of crucial interventions. 

Thilo Kehrer, too, having played a more peripheral role in the opening weeks has once again worn the captain's armband and looks close to being back to his best. Caio Henrique, an attacking full-back by trade, filled in well, putting in a largely error-free performance against Spurs, and as expected, Christian Mawissa slotted back in seamlessly following his return from injury. 

There is still the return of Eric Dier to come, too. The Englishman is expected back within the next couple of weeks to add more quality, experience, and depth to a back line that has gone from pourous to impenetrable in the space of a few short days.

READ MORE

>> Mohammed Salisu's early header enough for Monaco win over Toulouse

>> The numbers behind a historic start to the Ligue 1 McDonald's season

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