Monaco’s Mika Biereth ‘not sanctioned’ but struggling | OneFootball

Mika Biereth (22) is struggling to reach last season’s heights. That can’t really come as a surprise when you score 13 goals in your first 16 games in Ligue 1. It is a rhythm that is hard, nigh-on impossible to maintain. 

However, with just one goal in 10 Ligue 1 games, eight of which have come as starts, the Denmark international is struggling. That was evident once again during AS Monaco’s 1-0 defeat against Paris FC on Saturday. Biereth started the game but would not re-emerge from the tunnel after half-time. 

Biereth relegated to back-up role

“It isn’t a sanction because I don’t sanction a player, and I think that Mika gave everything in the first half. But I thought we could look to go in behind more and have more of an impact in the second-half,” justified Sébastien Pocognoli post-match. 

“He didn’t have the desired impact, but I must admit that, collectively, there wasn’t a lot more happening in the second half,” added the Monaco manager in a press conference attended by Get French Football News. Folarin Balogun, Biereth’s replacement, struggled to positively impact proceedings, but more generally, the USMNT forward has had a greater impact, especially under Pocognoli. With the Belgian opting to play just one No.9 for now, Biereth is, through his performances, becoming a backup option, not that he can’t change the trend.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco