LOSC played negatively and camped inside their own half, and that didn’t change, even after Jordan Teze’s red card on the hour mark meant that they were facing a 10-man Monaco for 30 minutes. In a post-match press conference, attended by Get French Football News, Genesio did not mince his words. 

“We provided a real snoozefest for the fans tonight. We saved a point because Lucas (Chevalier) saved us again. It was massively insufficient given what we had planned to do. It’s not a side to my team that I want to see. Sometimes, there are defeats that are more encouraging than this draw,” he began.

“What was encouraging? Nothing. Nothing. We didn’t do what we planned to do. We contained this Monaco team, even if they had a big chance (through Denis Zakaria) at the end. Absentees can’t be an excuse. We have to do better, a lot, lot better. We seemed happy to play out a 0-0,” he added.

Genesio accuses his Lille players of not following tactical instructions

“We didn’t do what we planned to do and that is what angers me the most. In terms of winning the ball back, we did the opposite of what we had planned to do. But it was not the same match as against Saint-Étienne (where Lille lost 1-0 in September). We created chances against ASSE. We did nothing today. We were happy to be in our own half and give the ball to Monaco, and give them the means to do what they like to do,” said Genesio.

“When you know that Monaco press massively when they lose the ball, when [I ask my team] to play on the wings, quicker, switch the play but instead we play the ball in the middle with little 20cm passes, sideways passes, and we are countered on once, then twice, either I don’t speak the right language, or we’re stupid,” he concluded. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco

AS Monaco and Lille OSC played out a goalless draw as Ligue 1 football returned on Friday night. Les Dogues couldn’t punish 10-man Monaco following Jordan Teze’s red card in the second half, as the Principality club extended their lead at the top of the table.

The Match

The rhythm was quickly set. Monaco pushed high and with intent out of possession and won the ball back high on several occasions. For large periods, Lille struggled to get out, ceding the lion’s share of the possession. However, it was clear that they were happy to hit on the break, with Edon Zhegrova the main outlet and a heavy reliance on individual moments of brilliance and neat interchanges with Angel Gomes and Jonathan David.

Les Monégasques looked dangerous without ever carving out clear-cut opportunities. Aleksandr Golovin saw two tame efforts saved comfortably, but the best chance of the half fell to Jordan Teze, who lacked composure in the box and blasted his rushed shot wide. Lille meanwhile, struggled to create anything at all, registering just three shots on target in the entire match.

Teze’s red card in the 62nd minute ought to have been a turning point. Already on a yellow, the Dutchman went flying in on Gabriel Gudmundsson, making contact with the LOSC defender’s neck with his knee. The straight red card was logical. But it didn’t significantly change the flow of the match.

At least until the last 10 matches, the Principality club continued to have much of the possession, much of the control, and even the better chances. Krépin Diatta should have done better when the ball fell to him within the box, but he blasted over, whilst Denis Zakaria’s effort in injury time was well saved by Lucas Chevalier.

Monaco’s ability to dominate and create, even at 10 man reflected poorly on a Lille side that looked happy to only take away one point from the Stade Louis II. If that was the goal then they achieved it. Les Monégasques are now three points ahead of second-placed Paris Saint-Germain, who can go back level with Monaco if they beat RC Strasbourg Alsace on Saturday.

Monaco player ratings

Radoslaw Majecki – 5

Caio Henrique – 6

Thilo Kehrer – 6

Wilfried Singo – 6

Jordan Teze – 2

Sloppy in possession and guilty of squandering Monaco’s best chance in the first half with a rushed finish. His tackle on Bouaddi, another clumsy moment, could have seen red, his flying kick on Gudmundsson in the second half did. 

Denis Zakaria – 5

Lamine Camara – 5

Eliesse Ben Seghir – 6

Nominated for the Golden Boy award the day before, Ben Seghir was the most lively of Monaco’s attackers, making frequent dangerous runs inside from the left. Like many of his teammates, he lacked the final ball on the night. 

Aleksandr Golovin – 6

Takumi Minamino – 4

George Ilenikhena – 3

Pre-match, Hütter said that Ilenikhena’s weaknesses were with his back to goal and in hold-up play. Against a LOSC side that sat deep, those weaknesses were highlighted. He rarely had the chance to run into space, to pin a man one-on-one. His influence was therefore highly limited, before being replaced by Breel Embolo in the wake of Teze’s red card.

Lille player ratings

Lucas Chevalier – 6

Mitchel Bakker – N/A

Replaced by Gabriel Gudmundsson (5) 

Alexsandro – 4

Bafodé Diakité – 5

Thomas Meunier – 6

The Belgian had a lot to handle down the right. He had the marauding Caio Henrique and Eliesse Ben Seghir to contend with, and whilst the latter did impress, the left flank was not so effective for Les Monégasques, certainly not as much as they would have hoped and expected. Meunier is a big reason why. 

André Gomes – 6

Ayyoub Bouaddi – 4

Osame Sahraoui – 4

Angel Gomes – 5

Edon Zhegrova – 4

Lille relied on him to provide moments of brilliance, but they were in short supply. His touch was uncharacteristically loose. It was a missed opportunity for the Kosovan, against a left-back not renowned for his defensive strengths. 

Jonathan David – 5

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

As reported by local media, Mbappé, who travelled with former PSG teammate Nordi Mukiele, went to a restaurant called ‘Chez Jolie’ before going to a nightclub called ‘V’ later the same evening, on 10th October. It was on this night that the alleged events transpired. 

The alleged rape happened in the hotel in which the Frenchman was staying. The report from Aftonbladet in Sweden did not mention Mbappé as being a subject of the police’s investigation, unlike a later report from Expressen, which stated the contrary. Confirming the enquiry, the Swedish prosecutor did not mention Mbappé’s name, however, as per RMC Sport, the player’s entourage are now “certain” that he is a suspect in the investigation.

‘The physical drop-off that he has had at 25, I have never seen that’ – Molina on Mbappé

This affair comes just months after Mbappé secured his dream move to Real Madrid. It is a move that has long since been in the works. After a difficult start to life at the Bernabeu, he has started to find his rhythm; he now has seven goals in his first 11 games. 

However, Molina, in an interview with Colinterview, is now reporting that Los Blancos regret signing the France captain. “They regret bringing him in. I guarantee that. I have spoken about it on off [the record]. It hasn’t been at all what they were expecting. It was a whim of [Florentino] Perez. It was only Perez that wanted him,” said Molina. 

He added, “[Perez] has always liked the big players. He also has a filial relationship with him (Mbappé) […] the club are gutted, firstly with his level (performances), which is not at all at the expected levels, in the dressing room it isn’t great, that isn’t necessarily Mbappé’s fault though. I think Real have made a big mistake. He didn’t have a pre-season, he played instantly, unlike [Jude] Bellingham. When you see how [Mbappé] is physically at 25, you can’t explain it to me. The physical drop-off that he has had at 25, I have never seen that.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Pépé made 79 appearances for Lille, scoring 37 goals and registering 18 assists before joining Arsenal in an €80m move back in 2019. His move to the Gunners never worked out, despite making over 100 appearances for the Premier League side. A loan move to OGC Nice in 2022 failed to resurrect his career before he ultimately joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer in September 2023. 

However, having only signed a one-year deal, the Ivory Coast international was once again available on the market this summer. Speaking to Free Foot, Pépé has revealed that he almost made a shock return to LOSC.

“I had a chance to return to Lille. It tempted me. I thought about it because my family live in Lille and so it is something that crossed my mind,” said Pépé. Since moving to Villarreal, he has enjoyed a return to form, netting once and registering an assist in his first eight matches in La Liga. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Millot joined VfB Stuttgart for a meagre fee of under €2m from formative club Monaco back in 2021. He has since gone on to make 79 appearances for the Bundesliga side, and this season, he already has five goals to his name in just nine games. That form could see him rewarded with his first France cap next month. 

Within that context, Millot’s reported release clause is a relative bargain. As reported by Sky Germany, he has a release clause, valid this summer, worth between €18-20m. His current deal with the German club runs until 2028, and whilst a key player, that low release clause is likely to garner some considerable interest.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Injuries have followed in almost every game. Against Paris Saint-Germain, just before the international break, Youssouf Ndayishimiye (initially hamstring but now a back issue) and Ali Abdi (ankle) were both forced off. Both are absent to face FC Nantes on Sunday. Mohamed-Ali Cho is also a doubt to make the trip to La Beaujoire. 

Laborde returns for Nice

Melvin Bard (knee) is already out; Sanson is yet to make his return; and Tanguy Ndombélé, who had been nursing a hip injury, will also miss the game against Nantes, as revealed by Franck Haise in a press conference, transcribed by France Bleu Azur. 

There is a piece of good news, however, as Gaetan Laborde returns following a significant two-month absence with a fractured metatarsal. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

As per a report from L’Équipe, it is expected that Arnault will become the majority shareholder of the club, with Red Bull looking to purchase a 15% share. Reports that Red Bull were looking to add Paris FC to their portfolio came just after it was announced that former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp would become the head of global soccer for Red Bull, starting in January 2025.

But should Red Bull purchase a minority share in Paris FC, as expected, is there a chance that Klopp would manage the Paris-based club? President Pierre Ferracci, who is expected to remain in his position post-takeover, evoked the topic during an interview with BFM Business. 

“No, he won’t be the manager. At least, not for now… unless one day we are in the Champions League,” said Ferracci. Competing in the UEFA Champions League is an objective of the club, as outlined in a press release that confirmed takeover talks. 

Paris FC president ‘admires’ Klopp

A press release from Financière Agache, a subsidiary holding company of LMVH who are owned by the Arnault family, confirmed the ambition of the prospective new owners who will look to “gradually” bring both the men’s and women’s teams into the elite of French football and to make both sides regular fixtures in the Champions League.

Given their current position at the top of Ligue 2, the Champions League seems a long way away, however, Paris FC will have considerable means, around €100-200m in resources, invested in the coming years. 

On Klopp, Ferracci added, “We are going to learn what Klopp’s role as global co-ordinator is. He is someone that I admire a lot.” Should the takeover be completed, Klopp will have a role to play at Paris FC, just not from the sidelines… at least in the short and medium term.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Carroll’s decision to leave Ligue 2 side SC Amiens in order to join Bordeaux certainly raised a few eyebrows.  The former England international joined Amiens from Reading the previous summer. However, despite having featured prominently in Ligue 2 last season, he made the choice to go down into the fourth tier to join Bordeaux, who recently went bankrupt, were forced to revoke their professional status, and as a result were kicked out of Ligue 2, despite securing safety last season. 

He has hit the ground running at Bordeaux, netting a brace in each of his first two matches for his new club, helping them towards their first league win since the demotion. In an interview with RMC Sport, Carroll revealed that it was costing him money to play for Bordeaux, without going into details.

The media evoked a salary of €3,500. “No, it’s a lot less than that,” Carroll told L’Équipe. “I won’t tell you the exact figure but to give you an idea, since I moved here, I rent a pretty little house and my salary is less than my rent. If I joined Bordeaux, it clearly wasn’t for the money. I had offers from elsewhere to play in Saudi Arabia, but that didn’t interest me,” added the former England international. An internal source at Bordeaux told L’Équipe that Carroll’s salary is less than €2,500 per month.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Bruno Genesio has multiple absentees to contend with. As well as Benjamin André, suspended, there is a whole raft of injuries. Tiago Santos suffered an ACL injury during the international break and will miss several months. He joins the likes of Samuel Umtiti, Nabil Bentaleb, Ethan Mbappé, Ismaily, and Hákon Arnar Haraldsson on the sidelines for Lille.

It means that there will be space in the starting XI for 17-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi. He will likely feature alongside André Gomes with Angel Gomes playing in a slightly more advanced role, closer to Jonathan David. 

Lille likely lineup v Monaco

Lucas Chevalier; Mitchel Bakker, Alexsandro, Bafodé Diakité, Thomas Meunier; André Gomes, Ayyoub Bouaddi; Rémy Cabella, Angel Gomes, Edon Zhegrova; Jonathan David. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle