How Mika Biereth is navigating a difficult Monaco season | OneFootball

After a blistering start at Monaco, Mika Biereth has slipped down the pecking order behind Folarin Balogun, featuring for only two minutes against Auxerre as Monaco chased a winner. The scrutiny grows before Saturday’s league trip to Toulouse at 21:05.

According to Nice-Matin, the Denmark international extended to 2030 last summer but has struggled for minutes this term, averaging under 10 since his last start on 5 February at Strasbourg. He scored that night in a 3-1 Coupe de France exit.

Back in December he hit a brace alongside Balogun in a 2-1 cup win at Auxerre, with Maghnes Akliouche as a number 10 in a diamond, a one-off the coach later framed as cup-specific. Earlier, Adi Hütter’s flat 4-4-2 asked Biereth to drop away from the box, exposing limits with his back to goal.

Balogun has 18 goals in all competitions, 17 since Sébastien Pocognoli arrived in mid-October. The Belgian favours one striker, vertical play and high intensity, and says Biereth has recently returned to the training level required.

The departures and injuries around him have not helped. Breel Embolo, a close ally, left last summer, and Takumi Minamino suffered an ACL injury in December, removing preferred combinations and leaving Biereth more isolated up front.

He has five goals and two assists in 39 games this season. Those close to him insist he remains upbeat, committed in training and not sulking, a stance the coach has echoed.

Plans could be revisited in the summer if he is not in the picture. Interest surfaced in winter from a major Portuguese club, with Italian sides also attentive, while England still watches on. Monaco view him as a long-term piece, barring an unreasonable offer.

Source: Nice-Matin