Supersubs propel Monaco back into European race

AS Monaco are currently on a six-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1 McDonald's and are firmly back in the race for European football. In large part, the Principality club's supersubs are to thank.

Fati: off the bench and on the scoresheet

It hasn't been an easy season for Monaco, who for much of the season, have contended with a relentless injury crisis. That crisis limited Adi Hutter's options on the bench in the opening weeks, and Sébastien Pocognoli has had to contend with the same problem. However, the latter's in-game choices have reaped considerable rewards.

Despite limited options at the Belgian's disposal, the Monaco manager has often made the right changes in matches, bringing on players who have gone on to shift the momentum.

Ansu Fati has the best goal to minutes ratio in Ligue 1 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tDiG0PYXoY
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 27, 2026

The player that immediately springs to mind has to be Ansu Fati. The Barcelona loanee did, of course, make his Ligue 1 McDonald's debut by coming off the bench. He came on at half-time against Metz back in September and took just seconds to get on the scoresheet. The game was deadlocked at the time of his goal. The Spaniard would get a brace on the day, helping the Principality club to an ultimately convincing 5-2 win.

In Ligue 1 McDonald's, Fati is Monaco's top-scorer with eight goals, but that is despite making just six starts. He has made a further 10 appearances from the bench. But he is far from alone in making his impact felt, having not started a game.

Monaco - European trailblazers

Simon Adingra came off the bench to score in a 2-0 win over Angers over the weekend to become the ninth different player to score off the bench for Monaco this season; no team has had more do so in Europe's top five divisions this season, whilst it also marked the 11th game in which a substitute scored for the club. Once again, no club in Europe's top five leagues has bettered that figure.

Adingra's goal was the 19th scored by a substitute for Monaco this season. Only PSG better this figure (20) in Europe's top five leagues. With limited options, Pocognoli has been extremely effective with his in-game choices.

His introduction of Adingra managed to unlock Angers. Not only did the Ivory Coast international score, but he also helped create space, as noted by Alexandre Dujeux, who saw the substitution as the deciding factor in his side's loss at the Stade Louis II on Saturday.

Whilst the impact of Monaco's substitutions is seen statistically, there is also a hidden influence but one that is not negligible. Les Monégasques are a reminder that football is increasingly a game played with 16 players, not just 11. Several managers in the world of football have tried to reshape the discourse around substitutes, granting them greater importance and so using the term "finishers" instead... and Monaco certainly have plenty of them in their team.

>> 'Great option' Simon Adingra has hit the ground running at Monaco