Adi Hütter: "We will have to fight to get back on track"

A enraging defeat. Ahead at halftime against Montpellier, the AS Monaco players were consigned to defeat in the second half at the Stade de La Mosson (2-1). It was a result that Adi Hütter wished to speak about with the media post-match.  🎙️

Good evening coach. What is your explanation for tonight’s match?

The first half was good. In the second half, individual errors put us in difficulty and then Montpellier were too comfortable. Today, it’s more than a big disappointment, it’s a real gut punch for us and everyone at the Club. I respect all of our opponents, so congratulations to them for their victory.

𝗙𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 🔚

Rendez-vous ce mardi au Stade Louis-II pour le retour de la @ChampionsLeague 👊

2️⃣-1️⃣ #MHSCASM pic.twitter.com/qPx7cGPMBQ

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 17, 2025

We feel you are very affected tonight…

It’s a defeat that hurts because we want to get out of this situation. During the first half, the team did good things and we created several chances. In the second, we made big individual errors, it’s not the first time that’s happened this season. It’s sometimes difficult for a coach to explain that.

How can the team get back on its feet?

Firstly, my sense of motivation will not drop and I want to continue to help the team. How can I help our players at this time? I have sometimes experienced this situation in the past and it is nonsense to want to punish players, this is a young team. It is a difficult phase and I am not the kind of coach who wants to abandon them. I am the coach, I am the first person responsible. You have to be positive even if it is difficult for everyone.

Do you feel that the team is affected mentally?

This often happens in football when you have a series of disappointing results. At the start of the season, the wins were stacking up, Everyone was happy. I have been in professional football for 35 years as a player before and as a coach now. It is not the first time this has happened to me and the main thing I have learned is to stay positive, work on the details and help the team.

Do you think that the Champions League match against Aston Villa could have affected the team’s mentality?

I don’t think so, I have the feeling that the team was completely focused on this match. You could see that in the first half, we wanted to make the difference quickly but we missed too many chances. In the second half, we wanted to score the second goal but we made an individual error. We then had no right to concede another goal.

We tried to come back after with several chances in the last minutes but it was too little. I have a lot of respect for Montpellier but we needed to impose ourselves to regain confidence. Tuesday will be a completely different match, it’s the Champions League at home, but I don’t think the team already had Aston Villa in mind.

After the first goal conceded, we have the feeling that you couldn’t get back into the game mentally.

You’re right but as I said before, we were dominant on the pitch in the first half, we were the better team. And after the goal we conceded and the way we conceded it, I started to see bad body language, that’s why I made some changes to bring freshness to the team. We only managed to be dangerous in the last minutes when we had had 40 to regain the lead.

Premiers changements côté monégasque :

🟢 C.Henrique, Vanderson & Michal
🔴 Ouattara, Teze & Akliouche

61' | 1️⃣-1️⃣ #MHSCASM

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 17, 2025

Do you think the match against Benfica marked a turning point?

It looks like that, yes. That evening, we had played a very good game but we conceded two goals in the last minutes. It was a blow for us and it has lasted since then with only one win against Toulouse. It is too little to achieve our objectives which are now under threat. I remain ambitious at all times and I want to protect my players.

Do you feel like you have the resources within you to get back on track?

Yes, because with my 630 games as a coach, I have already experienced this situation and I have the tools in hand. I will give my all. Of course, we have to be better, we will have to fight to get back on track, but I am nevertheless totally convinced that we will soon be back. The teams behind us are coming back strong but the season is still long.