Ligue 1: AS Monaco has a solid base before Le Havre, but there are uncertainties in attack and defense

Monaco ended their preseason on a sour note with a 2-1 defeat against Inter Milan . They were leading and the Nerazzurri were down to ten men since the 35th minute. It was their only defeat in a preseason that began with five wins and two draws. Before hosting HAC, while everything is not perfect, ASM has a solid foundation.

Counter-pressing always effective

Monaco haven't lost their aggressiveness when losing the ball during the offseason. Counter-pressing, already a strength during Adi Hütter's first two seasons on the bench, still remains so. This is evidenced by these goals scored after high recovery against Coventry, Torino, Ajax, and Inter. Zakaria-Camara, it's mind-blowing.

Denis Zakaria and Lamine Camara already had a significant impact on their team's results last season. This influence seems to have grown even more during preseason. The Swiss and the Senegalese, both clever and solid in duels to win the ball, were the source of rapid attacks and several goals.

The former Metz player has also improved his shooting. He's more daring and more on target. He even scored a magnificent goal, a deflected shot from over 30 meters away, in the first match against Torino. He again put Yann Sommer to the test twice against Inter in the first half.

Along with the Genevan, they shone with their coordinated movements and their ease in directing the play. A sure bet in Monaco's 4-4-2, this double pivot will allow Paul Pogba to smoothly integrate. If the 2018 world champion recovers his level after two years without playing, the Monaco midfielder may match up with the PSG midfielder.

With or without Akliouche?

This is the big question at the end of the transfer window: will Maghnes Akliouche be at Monaco on September 1st? The only certainty is that, with or without the 23-year-old attacking midfielder, ASM is not exactly the same team.

During the preseason, facing hunkered-down teams, the Tremblay-en-France (Seine-Saint-Denis) native acted as a can opener. He was the one who allowed the attack to change pace by sowing disorder. He opened up defenses and was decisive every 64 minutes (5 goals, 1 assist in 7 matches).

Currently deprived of its new recruit Ansu Fati, the Principality club still lacks lively and skillful one-on-one players. Against the low blocks that Le Havre should offer on Saturday in the Ligue 1 opener at the Louis-II (7 p.m.), the result could depend in part on the performance of the Olympic runner-up. If Akliouche were to be transferred for 70 million (see opposite), they would have to move quickly to reinvent themselves without the youngster trained at the club. Due to the high price of a technical and speedy winger, Hütter is unsure if a new recruit will sign. If no one arrives, that could be problematic. Especially with the doubts surrounding Fati's form.

What attack and defense?

The starting eleven will be closely watched on Saturday evening. Monaco fans are eager to know the names of Mika Biereth and Eric Dier's partners up front and in defence. Although he has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the match against Inter, Folarin Balogun, who scored against Torino, seems to have a head start over Paris Brunner, who is lively but struggling to perform.

Biereth and Breel Embolo have already shown that they complement each other, and their duo offers more certainty at the moment, but the Swiss's contractual situation (who will not be extended with one year left on his contract and who has no intention of leaving just anywhere) does not suggest he will start against HAC. In the event of a poor performance against the Normans, the question of the Swiss's playing time could quickly arise.

In defense, Christian Mawissa has had a very good preseason. Is he able to overtake Thilo Kehrer (implicated in Inter's goals) to pair up with Dier? He and the Englishman played together in the second half in Bielefeld and against Amsterdam. Adi Hütter loves him. His freshness, speed, and strength in duels, as well as his projections and improved concentration, speak in his favor.

Set pieces and restart under construction

This was one of the summer's projects, Monaco fine-tuned their recovery. The idea is simple: improve ball clearances to smooth out set-piece attacks and unbalance low blocks. Since the fourth friendly against Bielefeld, Adi Hütter has opted to play the six-meter line with his two center-backs positioned around their goalkeeper at the edge of the 5.50m box. Positioned in this way, Monaco try to suck the opponent in to find gaps behind the opposing attackers.

They intend to force the low blocks to come after them higher up, but this option remains risky against a team with intense and organized pressing. When this happens, the Red and Whites can find themselves in difficulty.

This was particularly evident when Camara had to negotiate balls with his back to goal or when the full-backs were closed in near the touchline. In the second match against Torino, Teze fouled, making a missed pass under pressure, which cost him a goal. Adi Hütter deserves credit for his efforts, and hopefully his discoveries will provide a positive balance at the end of the season.

The hopes are the same for Abel Lorincz. Vincent Hognon's former assistant at Valenciennes, a set-piece specialist, arrived this summer with a dual objective: to consolidate Monaco's positive record in static attacking phases, and to plug their weaknesses in corners, free kicks, and throw-ins. The Hungarian is starting his work, but the preseason has shown that he will have to move quickly, as Monaco were not supreme in this area during the summer.