AS Monaco - Bruges friendly match: a modest but welcome success to start

"I was expecting exactly this kind of match," admitted coach Adi Hütter after the match. "The first test is never easy, especially against a team like Bruges. We fielded two different teams in each half, which was intentional to give everyone playing time."

The match, which was marred by numerous fouls, was marked by the red card received in the 28th minute by Valy Konaté – Cercle midfielder and former ASM player. "The card changed the dynamic," continued the Monaco coach. " We asked to play 10 against 10, but the referee refused. He wanted to protect the player, we respect that ."

Despite a sterile domination and a missed penalty by Eliesse Ben Seghir (40'), the Red and Whites made the difference at the end of the match. On a corner played quickly by two players, the young Saïmon Bouabré saw his cross blocked into his own net by Bruges' Dalangunypole Gomis (1-0, 78').

Pogba, Dier, and Fati watched the match from the stands. " Paul is working hard in the gym. He's very motivated, but we have to protect him. He wants to get back in shape to prove he's still a great player ," Hütter emphasized. "Ansu is taking his time, and Eric is coming back from a minor illness. There was no point in starting them today."

Despite some technical errors and sometimes a certain slowness in restarting, the coach remains calm: "No one is injured, that's the most important thing. We still have to improve, but this kind of match is precisely what we need to do."

Next step: a training camp in England from Sunday, with two friendly matches on the menu, Coventry (16th) and Nottingham Forest (19th).