Monaco's Late-Season Surge Under Pocognoli Fuels Champions League Push
AS Monaco have reignited their trademark late-season surge, winning six consecutive Ligue 1 matches to thrust themselves into contention for a Champions League place. Under interim manager Sébastien Pocognoli, the Principality club has climbed from ninth to within touching distance of the top four ahead of a pivotal clash against Olympique de Marseille on Sunday. A victory would see Monaco draw level on points with Marseille, confirming a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for a side that has made a habit of strong finishes.
The recent run echoes successful spring campaigns from recent years, including a 28-point haul from a possible 30 under Philippe Clement in 2022 and 25 from 30 under Adi Hütter in 2024. Defender Thilo Kehrer, who joined the club in 2024, acknowledged the pattern, stating, according to the source material, that "each season is different, but they resemble each other a bit in the will to finish well." This season's resurgence began with Monaco possessing just 23 points at the start of the second half of the campaign, making the current streak all the more impressive.
Pocognoli's methods have been credited with the sharp upturn in form. His training sessions are reportedly based on the repetition of efforts and focused on offensive and defensive runs, an approach compared by the source to the training of sprinters. This physical emphasis appears to have paid dividends, with the team displaying notable endurance and pace in the final stages of matches. According to data from Opta cited in the report, Monaco have scored ten goals by substitutes since Pocognoli's arrival, the joint-highest total in Ligue 1 alongside Paris Saint-Germain over that period.
The squad's adaptation to a back-three system has been key, with rapid wing-backs providing a significant advantage in attacking phases. The collective effort mirrors a relay race, where sustained speed is paramount. As the season enters its final stretch, the mental aspect will be as crucial as the physical. Pocognoli emphasized this before a match in February, stating the need for optimism and positivity as the key to maintaining momentum.
Monaco's remaining fixtures include challenging encounters against Marseille, Lille, and Strasbourg. The coming weeks will test whether the team can maintain its high cadence, a quality that track coaches identify as essential for elite sprinters. For now, the club's late charge has transformed a middling season into one with tangible European ambitions, proving once again that the final furlong of a Ligue 1 campaign is where Monaco often finds its best stride.
