Leonardo Jardim urges title-chasing Monaco to focus on Nancy
Posted Friday, May 05, 2017 by PA
Head coach Leonardo Jardim has demanded Monaco win their match at Nancy to provide a tonic for Champions League disappointment that will also bring them closer to the Ligue 1 title.
The principality club lead reigning champions Paris St Germain by three points and have a game in hand, meaning 10 points from the 12 on offer would be enough to deliver a first championship since 2000.
Should they win at Nancy on Saturday, they might pull six points clear of PSG if the capital side lose at home to Bastia. That outcome would almost certainly guarantee Monaco the crown thanks to their superior goal difference.
Any positive result in the north east would also help Les Rouges et Blancs recover from the sting inflicted by Juventus in midweek, as the Italian giants won 2-0 at the Stade Louis II to take control of the European semi-final.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Jardim praised his side for their efforts against Juve, before turning his attention to the game against Pablo Correa's relegation-threatened Nancy at the Stade Marcel Picot.
"I've reminded my players that I'm very proud of them and that they have gone on an incredible journey," he said.
"Our journey in the Champions League has been amazing. We have to be proud of ourselves.
"The best thing we can do now is focus on Nancy. A victory there would bring us closer to the title.
"We have an advantage in Ligue 1 but we've won nothing yet. It's not true that PSG and Nice are out of the race.
"My message to the players is that we have to win the next match.
"There were lots of people there to support us on Wednesday and I'm asking them now: come to Nancy, too, because we will need you."
Nancy have their own, less lofty, ambitions as with three games remaining they are a point shy of safety.
They are, however, unbeaten at home in their last two outings and midfielder Loic Puyo is urging his team-mates to exploit any potential fatigue in the visiting squad following their Champions League ordeal.
He told asnl.net: "The real question that concerns Saturday is how physically fresh the Monegasques are going to be.
"They put in a lot of effort on Wednesday. Watching their semi-final on TV, they also gave me the impression that they are running out of juice a bit.
"It will be up to us to put a maximum level of intensity into everything we do against them."
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