Monaco have made ‘a big step’ towards the Champions League – Adi Hütter | OneFootball

It is a week that was described by AS Monaco manager Adi Hütter as “decisive” and it is a week that, thus far, is going entirely to plan.

In the space of just four days, Monaco have faced their two direct rivals for the UEFA Champions League places. Having leapfrogged Stade Brestois into second place after a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Breton side on Sunday, Les Monégasques hosted Lille OSC at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday evening.

Monaco had to ride their luck at times in the first half but took all three points thanks to Youssouf Fofana’s second-half strike (1-0). The victory consolidates the Principality club’s second-place standing and increases the gap to third-placed Brest to five points. Lille are now six points away with just four games remaining.

Whilst Hütter refused to get carried away post-match, he did nonetheless recognise the importance of the result. “It’s a big step [towards the Champions League]. It was a big clash between the two teams and it’s a big step in the fight for the Champions League places,” said the Monaco manager, in response to a question from Get French Football News.

The final game in this “decisive” week sees Monaco head to in-form Olympique Lyonnais. A victory will all but seal Monaco’s place in the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2018/19 season.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle