Adi Hütter: "A special match for me and for the entire Club"
It’s time for the return of European matches to the Principality! On the eve of the start of the 2024-2025 Champions League, in its new format, with a big match against FC Barcelona at the Stade Louis-II (Thursday, 21:00), AS Monaco is preparing to impress again in continental play. It’s a feeling that the coach Adi Hütter expressed in a press conference, a little over 24 hours before kick-off. 🎙️
A first match in the Champions League
It’s true that for me too it will be a debut in the Champions League, even if I have already more than 60 European matches on the clock as a coach, in the Europa League in particular and in the Champions League play-offs. It will therefore be a special evening for me, but also for the entire Club, which is eagerly awaiting this return to the competition after a six-year absence. Especially when I hear the Champions League anthem, I will have a few shivers.
The exprerience of the Champions League playoffs
With Salzburg and then with Bern, we were close to playing in the group stage of the Champions League each time. But with Young Boys, we came up against Borussia Mönchengladbach the first time and then against CSKA Moscow.
We still had the opportunity to play in the Europa League. In any case, I am very happy that we had a very good season last year with AS Monaco, in order to qualify for this magnificent competition. And I am now looking forward to tomorrow evening.
On the difference between this and the Gamper Trophy
We can’t compare these two games in my opinion. Since our win against Barcelona in a friendly match (0-3), they have had a fantastic start to the season, with five wins in as many La Liga games and already 17 goals scored, an average of three goals per game. In August, they had absences and so did we, and Barça were not in the same athletic form.
Hansi Flick is implementing his style of play, and it is much more noticeable than a few weeks ago. We both know each other and have a lot of respect for each other. We both had a good start to the season, so we are ready for this big clash!
About the youth of both teams
I think the average age of both squads is about the same, even though they have a very experienced player like Robert Lewandowski and our most mature player is 29. But they also have very young talents like us, and intermediate-aged players with more experience.
The history of AS Monaco in the Champions League
We can’t compare the periods, in my opinion, especially when we talk about the 2016-2017 run. It was a pleasure to watch AS Monaco at that time, even as an outsider. Now we have a new format with a single table, 36 teams, so it’s very different from before.
Veille de retour en @ChampionsLeague pour nos Rouge & Blanc 💫🔙
Tout savoir sur l'édition 2024/2025 👇 pic.twitter.com/EgEkmnU6ui
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 18, 2024
In the past, the Champions League has revealed players to everyone’s eyes, such as Kylian Mbappé. There were also more experienced players, like Radamel Falcao, while some have been able to make a name for themselves like Bernardo Silva and Fabinho. Today we have talents like Eliesse Ben Seghir, Maghnes Akliouche and Lamine Camara which are not yet very well known in Europe. But this campaign is a good opportunity for them to present themselves.
About mental preparation
I don’t really need to motivate my players to play this match tomorrow. When the lights at the Stade Louis-II come on and you hear the Champions League anthem, I think that’s motivation enough.
As a club, hosting FC Barcelona for the kick-off of the competition at home, we could hardly have dreamed of anything better. They are one of the best teams in the world, and we want to rub shoulders with the best teams, technically, tactically but also mentally. We love playing these kinds of matches!
A different approach compared to Ligue 1
Obviously FC Barcelona is the biggest team we will face since the beginning of our season, with all the respect I have for the French teams. But at the moment, Barça is the team with the biggest impact and the greatest quality. We faced them a few weeks ago, we know them well.
I know what Hansi Flick’s philosophy is, and he is implementing it and doing a very good job, with very aggressive pressing and counter-pressing, as he showed at Bayern Munich. We cannot compare the face of Barcelona in friendly matches and in the Champions League, but we too will be a different team that is capable of playing at a high level.
On the Barcelona attack
It is not easy to defend against these players, but we will have to do it as a team. I want to see my team play with courage against this Barcelona team. The danger will not only come from Lamine Yamal, because there is also Robert Lewandowski and others who are just as dangerous. We will see tomorrow how we defend, but I repeat, we will have to do it as a team.
On Robert Lewandowski
I know Robert well, sometimes it was difficult against him and Bayern, but sometimes I also had better memories. For me he is one of the best strikers in the world. He is a top professional, he is in great athletic shape. We will have to be careful with him, but also with the others.
On Dani Olmo’s absence
I’ve known him since his debut at Dinamo Zagreb. He’s a fantastic player, a top player in Europe and his goal against Girona this weekend was magnificent. Barça will miss him in the coming weeks. It’s true that I also faced him several times when he was playing at Leipzig.
But I don’t think it’s lucky for us that he’s absent, because we expect Ferran Torres to replace him, and he’s also a Spanish international who has a lot of qualities, especially in his defensive work. I’m not in Hansi Flick’s mind, but I think he’s the one who will replace Dani Olmo in the starting eleven, and he’s also in great form.
🚨 The squad for the @ChampionsLeague! #MonacoBarça pic.twitter.com/B4B8a7ekqY
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 18, 2024
