To celebrate the systematic presence of many Monegasque supporters in outdoor parking lots and the return of supporters to the stadiums, asmonaco.com is offering a series dedicated to the support of the Red and White. For this third episode of the season, discover Gael in the Puy-de-Dôme.
Continue the mini-series. This is the goal of AS Monaco on the Clermont Foot field on Sunday at 5 p.m. Unbeaten for three matches in all competitions (2 wins, 1 draw), the Red and White remain on a success in the league against Saint-Etienne (3-1). Opposed to Clermontois eleventh in the standings, the Asemists therefore want to continue their ascent and regain the first places.
20 years of love for the Red and White
This meeting will be followed by the Stade Gabriel-Montpied by Gaël. Supporter of AS Monaco since the 2000s, this 34-year-old teacher-researcher has indeed taken a place to push Wissam Ben Yedder and his teammates to a new victory. Passionate since adolescence and owner of a dozen jerseys, he tells us about his love for the Club, sealed since the magnificent epic of the 2003-2004 season. Meet.
Hello Gael. How long have you been a supporter of AS Monaco?
I started to support the Club around the 2000s during the time of Fabien Barthez, David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry. Then the epic in 2003-2004 only confirmed my passion and sealed it definitively. I was then a teenager and I was thoroughly. I started to follow all the matches and buy jerseys. Being from Aveyron, there aren’t really any clubs around except Toulouse. Most were for Marseille or Paris but the sporting performances and the game produced made me cling to AS Monaco.
What is the match that remains engraved in your memory?
I would say the Champions League quarter-final second leg between AS Monaco and Real Madrid during this famous epic. I remember I was at my aunt’s house. I was all alone watching him. There were small children so I couldn’t scream. I was running around the apartment so as not to make too much noise. This is one of the games where I remember perfectly where I was. However, I completely forgot about the final against Porto. My memory must have done a selective sorting of this event (laughs).
And more recently?
In recent times, I am thinking of the championship match between AS Monaco and Dijon in 2017. I remember that we lost 1-0 at half-time then Radamel Falcao slammed two free kicks in the two skylights ( the first had been on the crossbar then followed by Nabil Dirar editor’s note). It really struck me because the Colombian was a great figurehead and he took a big thorn out of our side. These two goals were a great highlight for everything he has achieved in sport. During these last five years, he remains one of the most outstanding players.
???? With 46% of the vote, the sublime free kick @FALCAO against Dijon is your #TopBut April !!! ????⚽️ pic.twitter.com/flKvdRdNt1
— AS Monaco ???????? (@AS_Monaco) May 6, 2017
Exactly, who is the player who marked you the most?
I really liked Thomas Lemar. To have seen him play, he had marked me a lot with his rather discreet personality. Technically, he was also very good. I also adored Bernardo Silva who was very strong. Among the older players, I loved Lucas Bernardi. He was a fighter and a dog in the field.
I also liked Maicon as the right-back. He was a whimsical player. There is also Radamel Falcao and his leadership, Ludovic Giuly, Dado Prso… It’s hard to come out with just one. If I had to get two out, I would say Lucas Bernardi and Thomas Lemar.
Have you ever been to Stade Louis-II?
No, I have never been there to my great regret. Living in Clermont, it is difficult to go to a match. However, I have been to La Turbie plenty of times when I was on vacation in the area. The last time was in 2016. I remember Kylian Mbappé leaving on foot from the training center to the bottom of La Turbie for someone to come and pick him up.
Andrea Raggi had been very nice and had taken the time to take pictures with everyone. He was very smiling and pleasant. But generally everyone was nice. There was a great closeness to the supporters. I had been able to take pictures with three quarters of the team. All the players had played the game.
Have you made any trips?
Yes several times. I went to see them in the Coupe de France in Sochaux. That evening, we unfortunately lost by a score of 2-1 at Stade Bonal. The last trip I was able to make was to Dijon in 2017, a few months after the title. This time we won 4-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Radamel Falcao. There was a great atmosphere between the Monegasque and Dijon supporters. I remember that everyone in Dijon applauded the players of AS Monaco.
Do you own jerseys?
I think I have a dozen jerseys. It started with that of the 2003-2004 season. My favorite is the Camel Meriem gold flocked jersey. The outfit had class. I also have training outfits. I try to buy one every year or every two years.
How do you see the match in Clermont?
I’m already happy to be back at the Stadium. For the match, I find that we lack success compared to what we have seen in the last six months. Clermont plays the game. We must not put them in a positive dynamic because they are able to score two or three goals for big teams like against Lyon (score 3-3 ed.).
But if we play seriously, we can go and win there. Against Saint-Etienne, Wissam Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland regained confidence by scoring. I also found that Myron Boadu had a good first half. In prognosis, I would say a 2-1 win for us.
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