Kehrer, main threat on corners

In Bologna, it was as a fox in the box that Thilo Kehrer gave ASM victory at the beginning of the month: "I was told it was a Pippo Inzaghi-style goal, but I don't think I'm there yet (laughs)." The Monaco vice-captain has nevertheless become a real threat with three goals scored from corners since the start of the season.

In total, Monaco scored six, and it's far from being a coincidence, admits Adi Hütter : "We work on them with four people: a video analyst and three of my assistants. They spend a lot of time on it." The Austrian coach justifies himself: "Set pieces represent 30% of scoring opportunities. We have a lot of dangerous players in this area: Kehrer, Singo, Salisu, Zakaria... We have this quality, so it's an important element and we work on it in training."

"We have a lot of quality shooters"

ASM has very athletic players with a good sense of timing on aerial balls, but also good shooters with whom they coordinate. Golovin, Akliouche, Ben Seghir but especially Camara and Caio Henrique are generally in charge. A valuable variety according to the Brazilian left-hander: "We are very strong on set pieces because we have a lot of quality shooters. It's important, because sometimes the matches are complicated, are closed, and on a ball, a free kick, we can win the match."

Not forgetting the importance of a smaller player, often Minamino, who positions himself in the six-yard box to disrupt the opposing goalkeeper and also show his eye for goal. "It depends on the opponent's strategy. Not all teams defend in the same way," tempers Adi Hütter, who does not want to reveal all his cards.

“Danger can come from anywhere”

It will be necessary to be cunning this Wednesday at Louis-II to surprise the giant Anatoliy Trubin and his almost double-meter in the cage of Benfica Lisbon (9 p.m., 5th day of the Champions League). If he hopes for a revival of his scorers, Adi Hütter rather sees the glass half full: “The most important thing is that we have several ways to score. We are indeed a big threat on set pieces. Offensively we are sometimes a little unlucky, but I don't care who scores. Whether it's the attackers, midfielders or defenders... It's more difficult for our opponent to defend against us, because the danger can come from anywhere."

With ten points after four games, Monaco can strike a major blow on the fifth day and approach the last three games against Arsenal , Aston Villa and Inter Milan with greater confidence. But beware: Benfica have themselves scored four of their seven goals in the Champions League from set pieces. A real customer too...