ASM will have to win on Shaktar Donetsk’s lawn to hope to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League. Defeated at home against the Ukrainian club this Tuesday evening (0-1), the Monegasque players nevertheless dominated (16 shots to 6) but conceded the only goal of the match by Pedrinho in the 19th minute. In a press conference, Monaco coach Niko Kovac recalled the start of the match missed by his men: ” In the first twenty minutes we didn’t play the way we wanted. Without the ball it was fine, we respected what was planned tactically, but the problem was that we lost the ball too quickly. “
« We have to believe it »
But the Croatian technician knows that the qualification is only part postponed: ” There is no reason to believe that we cannot qualify. I said it before the game, there are two innings and maybe we will have to play more than 180 minutes if we go into overtime », he explains before calling back “That there is no reason to abandon our dream. Last season we fought really hard, for 38 days, to get this opportunity, so we have to believe it ».
While waiting for the return match on August 25, the Principality’s club will already play a crucial match in Ligue 1, this Saturday against Lens after his defeat against Lorient.
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