An injury list numbering double figures for some weeks, including a host of prominent first-team players such as Croatian keeper Danijel Subasic, France full-back Djibril Sidibé, former Manchester City forward Steven Jovetic, summer signing from Strasbourg Jean Ahoulou and last season’s standout forward Rony Lopes has proven insurmountable. Falcao even went as far to criticise the current squad’s quality, as injuries, departures and questionable acquisitions have left Henry with what is effectively the youth team and a smattering of established names. Han-Noah Massengo and Badiashile, for example, became the first players born in the 21st century to start a Champions League match.
The future of the club itself also remains in question. Rybolovlev, reportedly open to selling Monaco for some time, infuriated by various barriers imposed by Financial Fair Play and the French authorities, was held in police custody in November at the request of a local judge in connection with “active and passive bribery” and “corruption” and his potential complicity in these matters, according to Le Monde. Although a statement maintained Rybolovlev was “presumed innocent”.
Henry insisted he was “not thinking of the winter transfer window” but those above him certainty are with Cesc Fàbregas, Michy Batshuayi and Gary Cahill all linked this week and the former Arsenal forward admitting “we play to survive, we do not play for anything else”. This week perennial Ligue 1 caretaker coach Franck Passi, previously standing in at Lille regularly at Marseille , was added to Henry’s coaching staff. Perhaps a sign that Vasilyev foresees a change.
In 2011, Monaco were relegated and sat bottom of the second division by Christmas before Rybolovlev’s billions rescued them. Now the Russian’s future alongside his manager’s and their Ligue 1 status is again in doubt. This time, however, saviours may not be so forthcoming.
Ligue 1 talking points
• Don’t look now, but Julien Stéphan has Rennes flying with five wins from five in all competitions. In-form Nîmes were the Breton side’s latest victim, with Saturday’s 4-0 win moving them to within a point of the European places. Stéphan has not been a revolutionary tactically, but he has imbued several key players with a large dose of confidence. Benjamin Bourigeaud, so influential last season, has been the chief beneficiary of this, and Jordan Siebatcheu, the summer’s big-money signing from Reims, has hit form as well, with three goals in the league this month. It is too early to anoint Stéphan as Ligue 1’s hot item, but the early signs are more than promising.
• Crisis or no crisis? It depends on who is doing the asking, but Marseille’s struggles are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Rudi Garcia’s side had lost on penalties to Strasbourg in midweek, and then saw a first choice side get a late equaliser against Angers on Saturday. Their once-vibrant attack has struck just five times in the last six matches, while their last win was against relegation-threatened Amiens, nearly a month ago. The January window and the end of the Europa League could be a tonic for Marseille, but things look dire indeed for a squad that is both thin and ageing.
• Finally, Lyon’s trip to Montpellier was a great advertisement for the quality in depth on show in Ligue 1 this season; both sides may have looked a little rough around the edges, with Lyon dealing with fixture congestion and the hosts not having played in more than two weeks, but each was well up for a top-four clash that ran fast in both directions before ending up a deserved draw thanks to a sparkling pair of goals from Nabil Fékir and Rubén Aguilar. Both look well-positioned to continue their tilts at European football, and will surely be worthy additions to European competition next season should they keep their places in the table.
Ligue 1 results
Bordeaux 1-1 Amiens
Ligue 1 table
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