Matthis Abline: "We have to build on what we’ve done well since the start of the season"

After arriving at the foot of the Rock this summer, Matthis Abline saw his start to life at Monaco disrupted by an injury during pre-season. He nevertheless made his debut against Marseille at the end of August before earning starts away to Strasbourg (1-1) and against Lens just before the international break, a match the Rouge et Blanc won 2-1. Ahead of welcoming Toulouse FC, the French forward spoke to the media about his first impressions in Monaco. 🎙️

On his current fitness

It’s true that I had a fairly mixed start to the season, but right now I’m feeling really good. I could feel myself improving week after week and I think I’m finally back to 100%.

Eager to score his first goal

I’m a striker, so of course I want to score, but I’m not putting any particular pressure on myself because I know it will come. I’m working hard for it, but the most important thing is helping the team. I can do that through goals, but also through the work I put in for the collective. I know it will happen, so I’m not worried.

Managing expectations and results

For me, the most important thing for a striker is creating chances and being in the right areas, and I think I’m doing that at the moment. I’m not fixated on scoring my first goal. Whenever I step onto the pitch, my aim is to help the team, whether that’s through an assist or a goal. Above all, I know I need to perform, and if I do that, I’ll create chances that can end up in the back of the net. I’m pretty relaxed about it.

On the coach’s instructions

Going forward, we’re given quite a lot of freedom to express ourselves. It’s mainly in our defensive duties that he places responsibility on us and asks us to help our teammates. We’re the first defenders, so it’s mostly about pressing and tracking back. Then, in attack, he asks me to do what I do best: attack spaces and use my qualities to cause as many problems as possible.

On Filipe Luís’ influence

He’s someone who knows the game inside out. He knows what he’s talking about, how to motivate us and how to communicate with his players. It’s really valuable, and you can feel it every day in training sessions and during matches. Having a coach like him behind us gives us even more motivation.

Competition for places up front

I think it’s a very good thing for us and for the Club to have strength in depth across the squad. It’s true that there are a lot of us competing in attacking positions, but that’s positive because it pushes everyone to be at 100% every day since we all want to play. It’s healthy competition too because we all get on really well. In the end, it’s up to the coach to make the decisions, but I think it’s very beneficial that we’re constantly pushing each other to improve.

On his partnership with Ansu Fati against Pisa

Everyone knows Ansu’s qualities. He’s coming back from injury and that was his first match for quite some time, so he’s gradually getting his rhythm back. As for me, no matter who I play with, I try to adapt to the player alongside me. Things went well with Ansu, and I hope it helped him regain some of his bearings. In any case, it was great to see him back on the pitch. He has a natural feel for the game, so it’s not difficult to play with him. It was an interesting partnership, and these are combinations we work on with everyone every day so that we understand each other better, especially for me as a new player.

On the different attacking partnerships

In modern football, you have to be able to adapt depending on who you’re playing with. That’s why we work every day in training to build connections with everyone. As for Paris Brunner, unfortunately he won’t be available this weekend, so we’ll have to adapt. I’m new here, so I’m getting to know my teammates better and better every day, regardless of who is playing.

His first impressions of the region

I think this region is magnificent! It’s a very different environment from what I’ve known before because the weather is often good and I haven’t seen much rain yet (smiles). It’s enjoyable for everyone because the working environment is fantastic and the quality of life is incredible. I’ve explored quite a few places and often go along the coastline around Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. I really enjoy walking there.

On moving from a relegation battle

It’s definitely different, but honestly there’s always pressure, whatever a club’s objectives may be. Right now, we have to stay on the path we’ve set since the start of the season. So yes, it’s different for me to be competing near the top of the table, and mentally it feels good to be playing for something other than survival. That’s exactly what I was looking for when I came here from Nantes. I’m very happy to be at Monaco, and now it’s up to me to give everything I have and be the best player I can be.

On playing out wide

I’ll always respond to the coach’s needs because I’m someone who can play in several attacking positions. My favourite role? I was trained as a centre-forward, so I’m probably most comfortable as a number nine, but I’ve also shown that I can perform on either wing. Because of that, I don’t really have a strong preference anymore and I’m happy to play anywhere across the front line.

On the team’s start to the season

I’m not surprised to see where we are at the moment when you look at what we’ve produced since the start of the season, both in training and in matches. We’ve shown all of AS Monaco’s defensive and attacking qualities during this opening phase of the campaign. Now, the hardest part will be maintaining the standards we’ve set and building on everything we’ve done well. We haven’t dropped our intensity during the international break, even though it was a long one. We stayed focused on our work and our objectives, and we can’t wait to get back into competition.

AS Monaco’s objective

Our goal is to finish as high as possible. We’ve shown that we’re capable of being among the top teams in the league, and we don’t want to let that slip. We’ll do everything we can to maintain the intensity, determination and hunger that drive us. But the hardest thing is always confirming what you’ve already shown, and that starts now because, once again, we have to keep doing everything we’ve done well since the beginning of the season. We can’t afford to let up in any area, and we have to stay united together.