Denis Zakaria thrives at the back as Monaco chase eighth straight win at Paris FC | OneFootball

Monaco head to Paris FC on Friday at 19:00 targeting an eighth straight Ligue 1 win after six on the spin, underpinned by captain Denis Zakaria’s switch to centre-back. Unbeaten since late January, they have revived their season.

According to Le Progres, a win at Stade Jean-Bouin could lift them back onto the podium, at least for a few hours pending other results. They have beaten Lens 3-2, PSG 3-1, Lyon 2-1, and Marseille 2-1.

After 19 matchdays they were 10th, 14 points off the podium. Pocognoli still recalls the 1 November 2025 defeat to Paris FC, 0-1, as the start of their slide. Between matchdays 11 and 19 they took four points, the worst in Ligue 1, and he was under pressure after replacing Adi Hütter two months earlier.

Following a 1-6 loss at the Santiago-Bernabéu to Real Madrid in the Champions League, Zakaria was moved into defence. With Wout Faes and Thilo Kehrer he has formed a high-level trio. The coach values his front and back defending and ball-carrying, and sees a strong future there.

Zakaria is cautious about long-term labels but accepts that the switch has helped Monaco. He casts himself as a team player and is content to continue there while it benefits the side.

Pocognoli believes he has found balance and will keep faith with it in the run-in. Yet Monaco have little margin, and Zakaria anticipates an intense fight through to the final day.

Source: Le Progres