His love for AS Monaco, 2017, the Centenary… Interview with Andrea Raggi
He has the Club engraved on his skin… and in his heart! Remaining very attached to the team that allowed him to experience indescribable emotions, going from Ligue 2 to the Champions League, including being a part of the team’s eighth league title, Andrea Raggi is a true lover of AS Monaco. This is what he repeated again in an interview given on the sidelines of the Centenary match, full of sincerity, as he evoked his best memories. 🎙️
Hello Andrea. How does it feel to come back here to the training center, which has changed a lot by the way?
It has become magnificent! Honestly, it shocked me, it is the first time I have come back here to the Performance Center since the work, and the change is enormous. It is something incredible! Then for me it represents a lot of dreams, memories… I have experienced everything here, so it is really very nice.
Precisely, from Ligue 2 to the Champions League and the 2017 title, what sticks with you?
A lot of things to tell the truth. But concerning the year of the title, we were an incredible team! Even in Ligue 2 I have a lot of memories in my mind, so it’s difficult to choose. But honestly, when you win the French title, when you reach the quarter-finals and then the semi-finals of the Champions League… What more can you want to do? That’s why I got the Club’s crest tattooed on my arm, which I keep as a precious memory. These are unforgettable things, and AS Monaco is like family for me!
Especially since there were several of you at the beginning of this adventure…
Of course, there was Danijel Subašić, Valère Germain, Nabil Dirar. We were a real family! Even the people at the store, the physiotherapist, we were all united in this adventure, like a big family.
Before returning to the top flight of French football!
Yes, then we were able to build a big team thanks to the President’s investments. There were also gambles, with the arrival of Bernardo Silva for example, who no one knew at the time, Fabinho, or Yannick Carrasco and Anthony Martial who were very young. It was this mix between youth and experience that meant that we got results right away.
It was also a special state of mind, like your role as a Swiss army knife…
It’s true that I played everywhere, except goalkeeper (laughs)! From left to right, in midfield… it was my role to help out where the team and the coach needed me. My assist in Dortmund? I remember it of course, it was a miraculous cross with the “rotten” left foot that I had (laughs)! But it went well in the end.
How did you experience these matches where you had to help out?
Calmly! Because honestly, we knew we had a great team, and we played with a sense of calm, without giving ourselves any problems, without worrying.
What made the team built from 2014-2015 go and get the 8th league title in the history of the Club?
I really think that what made us strong was the fact that we had a perfect mix of experienced players and young raw talents like Kylian Mbappé, Bernardo Silva, Fabinho, Benjamin Mendy, Djibril Sidibé and even Layvin Kurzawa before them. It was a perfect mix (smile)!
Which ones impressed you the most?
Technically (he thinks)? The one who impressed me the most, even though he was already very old, was Berba (Dimitar Berbatov)! But on the podium, I would put Bernardo Silva, who was incredible, a really great player. Then it’s easy to say Mbappé after the fact, even if he wasn’t at the same level as today, and then Anthony Martial too. Even Jérémy Toulalan, I assure you that we had some incredible teams here (smile)!
Did these players get hit in training?
A lot! I got hit quite a bit anyway (laughs). Both from Jeremy!
To go back to 2017, at what point did you tell yourself that you were going to follow through on this dream?
In our heads? Right away, honestly! The best memory was the victory in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 at the Stade Louis-II against Manchester City. We had lost there 5-3, and we managed to turn things around here. It was huge! Then came the day we officially won the title against Saint-Etienne.
Tell us about the moment when Tiémoué Bakayoko scored with a header against the Citizens?
It was exceptional, but it was deserved! We played the game we needed to qualify for the semi-finals. We smashed that game, especially since it was a big team against us, with Agüero, De Bruyne, David Silva, with Pep Guardiola on the bench, it was a crazy team! We played a great game, and from time to time I even go online to watch it again!
You are tied for life with this team!
It gives me chills just talking about it! I say it honestly, I left my heart here!
Let’s talk a little about the Champions League clash between your two former teams, Bologna and AS Monaco?
It’s very special for me, because I also spent two years at Bologna before coming here. They’re a great team, well organized, with smart players, because it’s still an Italian team. They have the tricks (smiles)! But I see AS Monaco as very strong too, so it will be a very interesting match.
𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘 ✨
🆚 @Bolognafc1909
🏟 Stade Renato-Dall’Ara
🕘 21h
📺 @CanalplusSport
📲 #BFCASM𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗴𝘂 🇲🇨 pic.twitter.com/DujaxVYVFr
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 5, 2024
This season we are celebrating the Club’s Centenary. How does it feel to have been part of its rich history?
As I said earlier, it gives me great pleasure to be back here, because it brings back so many memories. I am really happy that AS Monaco invited me to celebrate the 100th anniversary, and I am happy to be experienceing this moment.
A last word for the supporters who’ve kept you in their hearts?
They too remain in my heart, and above all… DAGHE MUNEGU !!! 🇲🇨
