With a goal, Youssouf Fofana is your MVP against Stade Rennais
He is becoming more and more clinical in front of goal. Already having scored twice with the French team against Gibraltar and Greece in the last international break, Youssouf Fofana did it again this weekend on his return to the pitch. The player who had missed the last two AS Monaco matches due to suspension and illness would score a key goal in Rennes.
A vital goal
Found by Folarin Balogun at 35 meters, the vice-captain and captain on the day in Brittany was not closed down by the opposing defense. He then got forward, entering the penalty area, and finished with his right foot, surprising Steve Mandanda (85′). It was a goal that brought relief as the Rouge et Blanc had been on the back foor for ten minutes, and which would prove essential with as Rennes’ would pull a goal back in stoppage time.
A great offensive and defensive performance
He thus scored his first goal this season and the third with the Principality club. But in addition to this goal, “Youss” impressed enormously in this match. For example, he was the Monegasque who had the most touches (70) and the one who completed the most passes (51), counting 15 in the final third, including two before a shot. The French midfielder also responded defensively, as evidenced by his nine ball recoveries.
MVP just ahead of Philipp Köhn
These great statistics earned him a place in L’Équipe’s team of the round and the title of MVP for the first time this season with 37% of the votes, just ahead of Philipp Köhn (34%). The Swiss goalkeeper could indeed have also deserved this trophy, as he was extremely decisive in the last quarter of an hour with three saves made.
He first kept out a powerful attempt from Arthur Theate on his line (80′), before catching a header from Amine Gouiri at his near post (90′) and being the author of a monumental tap to prevent a strike from Mahamadou Nagida finding his top corner (90+2′). Bravo Youssouf and Philipp! 👏
Un arrêt spectaculaire pour assurer les 3⃣ points ✊
𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽 🔝 pic.twitter.com/4v6GJdr3Tz
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) December 11, 2023
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🏆 2023-2024 MVP Recap
First half:
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 1: Clermont Foot 2-4 AS Monaco: Wissam Ben Yedder (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 2: AS Monaco 3-0 RC Strasbourg: Takumi Minamino (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 3: FC Nantes 3-3 AS Monaco: Takumi Minamino (2)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 4: AS Monaco 3-0 RC Lens: Aleksandr Golovin (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 5: FC Lorient 2-2 AS Monaco: Aleksandr Golovin (2)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 6: AS Monaco 0-1 OGC Nice: Aleksandr Golovin (3)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 7: AS Monaco 3-2 Olympique de Marseille: Maghnes Akliouche (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 8: Stade de Reims 1-3 AS Monaco: Ismail Jakobs (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 9: AS Monaco 2-1 FC Metz: Aleksandr Golovin (4)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 10: Lille 2-0 AS Monaco: Aleksandr Golovin (5)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 11 : AS Monaco 2-0 Stade Brestois: Aleksandr Golovin (6)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 12: Le Havre 0-0 AS Monaco: Philipp Köhn (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 13: Paris Saint-Germain 5-2 AS Monaco: Takumi Minamino (3)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 14: AS Monaco 2-0 Montpellier: Aleksandr Golovin (7)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 15: Stade Rennais 1-2 AS Monaco: Youssouf Fofana (1)