One of the surprise packages of world football was this season was Monaco who took both France and Europe by storm. Here are five magic men of Monte Carlo.
To win the French league ahead of one of the best and most dominating Paris Saint-Germain sides in history is a real challenge, a legendary achievement for Monaco. We said it straight away back in February: this is the sexiest club in Europe for the 2016/2017 season. Deadly strikers, incredible youngsters, a spectacular goalkeeper and a genius architect pulling the strings on the bench. But just who are the five key men who made the Monaco miracle possible?
Leonardo Jardim
How can you not give credit to the man who pulled all the strings to deliver the Ligue Un title? Jardim joined Monaco in 2014 and grew alongside his players, developing the young talent together with his attacking brand of football, improving season after season and finding the right maturity to provide a true opponent to PSG and even end up surpassing the Parisian giants.
? Le show @50cent ? !!! #ASMonacoChampi8ns pic.twitter.com/8y3edlrj91
— AS Monaco ?? (@AS_Monaco) May 22, 2017
Radamel Falcao
It took a lot of time to recover from the injury that dealt a huge blow to the Colombian’s career back in 2014. For years the best number 9 in the world, he had to take a step back to fully return to his top level. And finally, Falcao is once again amongst the best five strikers in European football, able to help the growth of Kylian Mbappe and carry through all his team mates with his charisma and leadership, deservedly lifting the trophy.
[fve]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d50IyNXtgQ[/fve]
Fabinho
One of the unsung heroes of the team, a hard worker as well as a quality midfielder. As right back, winger or midfielder, this multi-functional player has proved essential in the squad and on the pitch, providing the pace needed to support Jardim’s style of play, together with essential Brazilian quality on the ball. Fabinho’s defensive sacrifice in the middle of the park makes him a very complete midfielder that has been central to this team.
Danijel Subasic
Put simply, he is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, looking at the numbers. Subasic is second only to Marseille’s Yohann Pele for clean sheets in Europe’s top five leagues, for a total of 17 games without conceding, and only letting in 28 goals in the whole campaign. And aside of numbers, he has proved to be absolute quality, as the two Champions League semifinals against Juventus show. Just have a look at his saves.
[fve]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtIotNvVg0k[/fve]
Kylian Mbappe
It’s cliche to mention him, but what a player Monaco have discovered. A kid, soon to be a man, who has developed as quickly as can be into a goal machine that puts together the best of past France and Monaco strikers such as Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.
Mbappe literally scored his way to the French title and the Champions League semifinals, destroying famous defenders and beating goalkeepers like Claudio Bravo and Gianluigi Buffon. A total of 26 goals this season, and he’s only 18. Six of these in the Champions League. He is thew big surprise, and no one can imagine what heights he can reach.
[fve]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H3J_nL9hJw[/fve]
