Adi Hütter: “Analyze this match carefully to bounce back on Sunday”

Yet ahead on the scoreboard in the first half, the Rouge et Blanc were pushed to a cruel defeat via a penalty shootout in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France against FC Rouen (1-1, 6-5 on penalties). It was a scenario that the Monegasque coach, Adi Hütter, tried to analyze in speaking with the media after the whistle 🎙️

Good evening coach. What is your feeling after this match?

It’s a very big disappointment that we’re feeling this evening. I obviously want to congratulate Rouen for their performance. Everyone is very sad to exit the Coupe de France. We wanted to go to the end of this competition, until the final. Our performance was not good enough, not sufficient.

It was too easy for Rouen to defend against us, they were very well organized. We haven’t found the right solutions to answer this. Sometimes we have difficulties against teams who play in a low block, but that’s no excuse! I admit that it is difficult to find the right words this evening. Our disappointment is immense.

Did your team lack the character to win?

No, I do not think so. We talked a lot about this match together beforehand, based on the scenario of the previous match of Rouen against Toulouse, where there was also a draw here. This was one of the areas to work on, and it shows that we showed a lot of respect to this team. Again, we didn’t find the solution today. We conceded a goal on this free kick just before half-time which is obviously avoidable and which hurts us.

If there wasn’t a goal just before the break, maybe it’s a totally different match. Despite everything, we had 45 minutes to qualify, but we did not get back to our playing philosophy to achieve it. And then on penalties, it doesn’t matter if it’s a third division team we’re facing, it doesn’t matter, because it’s a unique exercise. I think we should have done more during the 90 minutes.

What are the solutions to move forward?

What is certain is that we have to change something. But I think this is not really the time to talk about it, we must first analyze this meeting cold and quickly refocus on Sunday’s match.

It will be another match, but we will have to make some player changes, and maybe tactical changes as well. But for me the problem is not the pattern this evening, but the lack of solutions. We will have to analyze all of this.

Do you think that AS Monaco is being analyzed better and better by its opponents?

We also know the structure of our various competitors. But the current problem is that we have to find solutions against low blocks, as was the case this evening. We have to change our style, to get forward more quickly. I repeat, it was too easy to defend against us tonight, and it’s not a question of system or starting lineup. We are once again very disappointed, but we must pick our heads up very quickly against Nice.

Thilo Kehrer’s reaction to beIN Sports:

“This elimination is difficult to explain in the heat of the moment. We did not manage to kill off the match in the first half, although we had the opportunities to do so. But we unfortunately lacked efficiency. We tried to push in the second half with changes, but it wasn’t enough. Then to penalties, it’s 50-50. There are a lot of young players in this team, and we have to learn from these kinds of matches, to know how to manage better. In any case, we will have to show more passion, commitment and energy on Sunday against Nice in the Derby to hope to win.”