AS Monaco won’t play like an ‘Italian team’ as they look to secure qualification against high-flying Aston Villa | OneFootball

AS Monaco can mathematically secure their qualification for the next stage of the UEFA Champions League in the event that they secure a draw against Aston Villa at the Stade Louis II on Tuesday, however, there is no question of the Principality club playing for a point.

“We aren’t an Italian team,” joked Adi Hütter in a press conference, attended by Get French Football News, showing defiance that Monaco will aim to impose their playing style, whilst also teasing Les Monégasques’ Italian press officer sat next to him. “They (the Italians) know how to do it. It is something that they have learned. We are a team that plays attacking football. It would make no sense going into the game saying that we will get a draw. Our DNA is to win matches,” insisted Hütter.

The Principality club are determined to play positively, but they are under no illusions as to the difficulty of the task that awaits them. Neither Hütter nor Breel Embolo were too surprised to see Aston Villa flying high in this season’s Champions League campaign.

Monaco unsurprised by Aston Villa’s Champions League success

“Maybe it’s a surprise that some big, big teams are in the position that they are in this table. There are maybe some that we would expect to be in the first eight. I am maybe a little bit surprised [that Aston Villa are in the top eight] but for me, it was clear [that they could go through] to the knockout stage because they are very strong and they show it every week in the Premier League,” said Hütter.

Embolo added, “Surprised that they’re in the top eight? No. If you watch Aston Villa in recent years, it is a club that is in the top six or seven in the Premier League. In terms of play, quality, personality, and top players… it is a team that has a great coach and great players.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco