Krépin Diatta is your MVP against Sturm Graz!
“It was important for me to be decisive, to score and to be useful to the team.” These are the first words that came out of Krépin Diatta’s mouth at a post-match press conference. The Monegasque number 27, the only goalscorer in the win against Sturm Graz to open the team’s Europa League campaign (1-0), was necessarily relieved to have helped deliver three points to his teammates in match that was dominated by AS Monaco, but which took a long time to be decided.
Une action d’école, un timing excellent
It is therefore after a superb bit of team play action among Cesc Fàbregas, Wissam Ben Yedder and Aleksandr Golovin, that the “Tsar” dropped the ball onto the head of the Senegalese international (21 caps, 2 goals), to open of the scoring (1-0, 66′). Strong in the air despite standing just 1m75, thanks to his superb timing, the winger, having arrived in the Principality last January, had until then made his speed his principle weapon, as on his attempt in the 12th minute or with an effort which flew over the Austrians’ crossbar (17′).
🎦 Tout pareil au niveau des cordes vocales 😆
𝟭-𝟬 ⌁ #UEL I #ASMSTU pic.twitter.com/hdBPjrZzaC
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 16, 2021
He had another chance shortly before his goal, again on the counter (60′). Full of energy and tireless on his right wing, he made plenty of high-intensity sprints and dribbles against opponents who are often driven to foul him, Krépin Diatta showed that he is in very good physical shape against Graz. It was therefore natural, and as a reward for his efforts on the pitch, that he scored his second goal for AS Monaco, and his first this season.
Consensus on the AS Monaco App
He had indeed scored in Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1, in Monaco’s big win in Le Forez (4-0) in the 30th round last season. Again decisive in this Europa League encounter, the Senegalese winger was elected MVP of the match by you, the Rouge et Blanc fans on the AS Monaco App, with 66% of the votes. He finished ahead of Aleksandr Golovin (15%), who had provided the assist, and Eliot Matazo (7%), author of a very solid match in the midfield alongside Aurélien Tchouameni (92% of duels won and passes successful, 3 interceptions, 4 successful tackles), in his first start of the season.
Bravo Krépin!
La réaction de Krépin Diatta, le buteur du soir pour l'@AS_Monaco ! ⚽️#ASM #UEL
▶️ : https://t.co/zCpw9j88r0 pic.twitter.com/bDQR3yLaAT
— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) September 16, 2021
2021-2022 MVP Recap
First half:
(UCL Third Preliminary Round first leg) Sparta Prague 0-2 AS Monaco: Aurélien Tchouameni (1)
(Ligue 1 Matchday 1) AS Monaco 1-1 Nantes: Gelson Martins (1)
(UCL Third Preliminary Round second leg) AS Monaco 3-1 Sparta Prague: Gelson Martins (2)
(Ligue 1 Matchday 2) FC Lorient 1-0 AS Monaco: Stahinja Pavlović (1)
(UCL playoffs first leg) AS Monaco 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk : Aleksandr Golovin (1)
(Ligue 1 Matchday 3) AS Monaco 0-2 RC Lens: Jean Lucas (1)
(UCL playoffs second leg) Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 AS Monaco: Wissam Ben Yedder (1) and Djibril Sidibé (1)
(Ligue 1 Matchday 4) ESTAC Troyes 1-2 AS Monaco: Sofiane Diop (1)
(Ligue 1 Matchday 5) AS Monaco 0-2 Olympique de Marseille: Aurélien Tchouameni (2)
(Europa Matchday 1) AS Monaco 1-0 Sturm Graz: Krépin Diatta (1)