Radoslaw Majecki ‘not surprised’ after claiming Monaco No.1 jersey | OneFootball

“Even in Poland, it was hard.” Indeed, whether it be in his home country or abroad, AS Monaco’s Radoslaw Majecki (24) has been in a perpetual fight for the No.1 jersey.

After making the move from Legia Warsaw, he wouldn’t have expected to have gone straight into the starting line-up, but nor would he have expected to have waited so long. After featuring for Monaco on just 11 occasions in his first two seasons at the club, the Polish goalkeeper, who hasn’t featured for his national team since 2021, became increasingly eager to showcase his talents.

Majecki loaned out to Monaco’s satellite club

Having publically emphasised the need for game time and deplored his “situation” at the club in December 2021, Majecki’s career was at a crossroads in the summer of 2022. “I know that I will be the No.1 next season. If it is not here, I will have to change club, either on loan or on a permanent transfer,” he said during the 2021/22 campaign.

Ultimately, with Alexander Nübel’s status as No.1 uncontested, it was a loan move that awaited Majecki, who made the move to Monaco’s satellite club, Cercle Brugge. It was in Belgium that he got his career back on track, making 34 appearances over the course of his one-year loan spell.  “Before moving to Cercle, I was on the bench for two years and wanted minutes; I needed some minutes in the tank,” he said in a press conference on Thursday.

Majecki’s self-belief remains intact, despite return to AS Monaco bench

When he returned to the Principality club in the summer, Bayern Munich loanee Nübel was no longer there, but his replacement, Philipp Köhn was handed the No.1 jersey.  “I had one conversation with the coach; I spoke with Adi about this. It was clear that I was the No.2 at the beginning but anything could happen,” said Majecki, whose chance to impress was largely out of his hands. A chance would only reveal itself in the event of Köhn failing to convince.

Majecki – essentially – took a risk, and it paid off.  His first appearance of the season came thanks to squad rotation in the Coupe de France. Given his chance, Majecki wouldn’t pass it up. “I worked for six months for this game against RC Lens [in the cup]. There was no doubt, even in the difficult moments,” said Majecki. “That match showed that I could be No.1 here,” he added.

The Polish shot-stopper is embued with a sense of self-confidence, however, that counts for little when the goalkeeping hierarchy was so clearly delineated. That changed, however, in February. After a string of unconvincing performances, including a much-criticised display in a 2-1 defeat against Toulouse FC, change was afoot at the Principality club.

‘I felt that I deserved to play’ – Majecki

“I think the change was very important because we spoke with Philipp too; he brought us some doubts. Radek was always at the same level,” said Hütter on Thursday. The Austrian added that Majecki has “played well in every game,” since inheriting the No.1 jersey.

For Majecki, there was never any doubt that he would get his chance. “I’ve felt good since the beginning of the season. It wasn’t a surprise for me because I felt that I deserved to play,” he told Get French Football News in Thursday’s press conference. Now he finally has the jersey, Majecki’s goal is now to keep it, help Les Monégasques towards a UEFA Champions League qualification, and perhaps regain his place in the Poland squad ahead of Euro 2024.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Photo credit: Luke Entwistle