Monaco eye another late-season surge after seven-match unbeaten run | OneFootball

Monaco have developed a habit of storming finishes, and under Sébastien Pocognoli they are seven unbeaten as another late push takes shape, L'Équipe reports.

Kovac, Clement and Hütter each signed off with a surge that delivered a Ligue 1 top-three finish.

In 2021 Kovac’s side averaged 2.3 points over the final 10 games. Clement’s 2022 team took 28 from 30, Hütter’s 2024 side 25. Jardim’s 2017 champions were perfect, 13 wins from 13.

Such bursts sometimes masked poor starts, which cost Kovac in January 2022 and Hütter last October. Pocognoli, who replaced the Austrian, is now overseeing his first sustained upswing.

Monaco own the next-best active unbeaten run in Europe’s top five, behind Bournemouth’s nine in England. Wins over Rennes 4-0, Lens 3-2 and Paris-SG 3-1 have brought them within six points of fourth.

Thilo Kehrer says the will to finish strongly is shared, but each season is different and demands focus and unity. He notes a shift in mindset and a tighter, more compact defence built on duels, cover and closing spaces.

Despite injuries to Vanderson and Caio Henrique, Pocognoli points to rising intensity and improved physical reliability. He cautions that sustaining the style after heavy exertion needs options to refresh it. Monaco’s bench has already supplied 16 goals, a handy weapon for the run-in.

Source: L'Équipe