‘GOLDEN BOY’ MAGHNES AKLIOUCHE KNOCKING ON DIDIER DESCHAMPS’ DOOR
Photo credit: AS Monaco
There is the ability to show moments of technical brilliance but being able to do so repeatedly is what separates the good from the great. Maghnes Akliouche (22), for a while, fell into the former category.
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November 24, 2024
The talent was so clearly there, as he showed on a cold Coupe de France night in February 2022. In his first professional start, he latched onto a ball in behind, turned one defender, brushed off another, before putting the ball on a plate for Kevin Volland, who easily converted. It was the moment that Akliouche announced himself but it was a moment that, over the course of the 18 months that followed, he struggled to replicate.
Faced with competition for a place from the likes of Takumi Minamino, Krépin Diatta, and the now-departed Gelson Martins, Akliouche failed to hold down a place in the line-up, despite others failing to make the position their own.
“Maghnes has developed well over the past weeks and months,” began former Monaco manager Philippe Clement, now at Rangers. “Because of that, he has received opportunities to prove that during matches. For now, he’s showing it more in training than in the matches,” added Clement back in October 2022.
Fàbregas’ advice to Akliouche
That inability to replicate his performance in training, at least not consistently saw Akliouche’s progress stall somewhat, all the while, another pépite from Monaco’s prestigious La Diagonale academy, Eliesse Ben Seghir, was bursting onto the scene, providing the assurances – and the stats – that Akliouche was not. Akliouche’s memorable assist against Amiens in the Coupe de France was his only goal contribution of the 2021/22 season, all the while, on the opposite wing, Ben Seghir was proving the difference-maker, registering seven goal contributions that season, including four goals in Ligue 1.
A technically gifted player with a deft touch and an ability to glide past players, the fruits of his work were inconsistent and his tangible effect on the game was too often limited. Akliouche recalls former Monégasque Cesc Fàbregas telling him to “play simple”, but for a player with the capacities of Akliouche, showing restraint is difficult, and ultimately, even if that advice has been on-boarded to an extent, he hasn’t had too.
With Ben Seghir injured for much of the last campaign, Akliouche had his chance and he seized it with both hands. He got a proverbial monkey off his back in the first game of the season, netting against Clermont before going to net on seven more occasions across the campaign. But even despite his breakthrough, which also saw him become a favourite under Thierry Henry in the France U21 set-up, he didn’t rest on his laurels.
“Doubts [about establishing myself at my formative club]? There still are. Monaco is a big club with a lot of competition so you have to be focused on your work every day and that is what I am trying to do,” said Akliouche in February of this year.
He finished the season strongly, inciting Monaco manager Adi Hütter to call him the “Golden Boy”. For a period, that title was bestowed upon Ben Seghir but as he returned this year, it became immediately apparent that at a club like Monaco, who prioritise youth development, there was room for more than one “Golden Boy” in this team.
“We have lots of young talents, like Ben Seghir, Akliouche, (Lamine) Camara… no one knows them very well in Europe. The Champions League will be the best scene to present them,” previewed Hütter ahead of Les Monégasques’ opener against Barcelona. Akliouche certainly made use of the platform he was given.
Performing at the highest level in world football, Akliouche proved that he belonged to be there, netting a stunning individual goal just minutes into his Champions League debut. “I thought I was only going to score in the Champions League,” joked Akliouche after he netted his third and fourth goal of the season against Stade Brestois, but his first in Ligue 1.
Akliouche at ‘international level’ – Hütter
If the performance against Barcelona was proof of his ability to play in the Champions League, his brace in the win over Brest was a message to Didier Deschamps – a statement that he can do it for France too. It was a performance in line with a rapid upward trajectory for Akliouche, who once again evidenced his game-changing ability. He was always a de-stabilising player but he is now a finisher too.
“I work on my finishing in training. It is important for an attacker to keep his cool in front of goal […] I’m feeling better and better,” said Akliouche after his brace.
“He can be happy that he is an example [of our academy], I saw [Akliouche] was a big talent but when you are upfront or a No.10, you have to bring stats, and set up or score goals. He brings us lots of stats. With two goals, he was for sure the key player tonight,” said Hütter, who then gave his assessment of Akliouche’s readiness for the international scene.
“He has made huge progress. For me, he is an international player,” added Hütter, whilst Akliouche’s progress has not been lost on captain Denis Zakaria, who joined in the summer of 2023. “He is a different player to the one from the start of last season. Before he was a bit of a ‘kid’ but he has matured. In his game, he often makes the right decision. He is really a very good player,” said the former Juventus and Chelsea midfielder.
Akliouche said that he hadn’t been contacted by Deschamps regarding a first France call-up but that may not remain the case for long, especially given Les Bleus’ manager’s special eye for a Monégasque talent; a stadium in his name is just a stone’s throw again from the Stade Louis II, whilst his residence overlooks the Principality.
“I can imagine that some top clubs will be interested in Maghnes next season,” said Hütter earlier this week. However, having tied Akliouche down until 2028 after signing a contract extension in July amid reported interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, it will be expensive to prise him away from the Principality.
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«Nos futurs adversaires peuvent s’attendre à un Monaco très fort»
Maghnes Akliouche, auteur du premier but monégasque hier contre les Catalans, mesurait la portée de la prouesse de l’ASM.
"C’est un petit rêve de jouer la Ligue des champions et de marquer"
- MAGHNES AKLIOUCHE,
MILIEU OFFENSIF DE MONACO
20 Sep 2024 - L'Équipe
ANTOINE MAUMON DE LONGEVIALLE
DE NOTRE ENVOYÉ SPÉCIAL PERMANENT
MONACO – Peu d’enceintes offrent un contraste aussi saisissant entre une soirée de Ligue 1 et une autre de Ligue des champions, mais rajoutez une victoire face au Barça (2-1) et vous comprendrez que le stade Louis-II a vécu une soirée unique, et pas seulement parce que Michael Jordan, la légende des Chicago Bulls, était dans ses travées.La joie de Mohammed Salisu et des Monégasques, victorieux hier des Catalans pour leur entrée en lice en Ligue des champions.
On ne bat pas tous les jours le Barça, et la durée des accolades d’Adi Hütter avec les membres de son staff au coup de sifflet final pouvait en témoigner. Une heure après la fin du match, les sourires étaient encore extra-larges dans les couloirs du stade monégasque.
Il y a un an, après son premier doublé en Ligue 1, face à Marseille (3-2, le 30 septembre 2023), Maghnes Akliouche était resté impassible au moment de commenter la première masterclass de sa carrière. Cette fois, le milieu offensif n’a pas caché sa satisfaction. « On est contents de nous, je suis content de moi, a commenté le premier buteur de l’ASM. On est tout simplement fiers de nous. C’est un petit rêve de jouer la Ligue des champions et de marquer.»
Le joueur de 22 ans a reconnu que lui et ses partenaires avaient obtenu «une récompense» , sans lâcher laquelle. «On a bien fait les choses, synthétisait Caio Henrique, entré pour la dernière demiheure. Après l’expulsion, on a vu que le match avait changé, qu’on avait plus le ballon. » « On savait qu’on était en surnombre, qu’en faisant un petit peu tourner on aurait des brèches dans la défense adverse, prolongeait Akliouche. À la pause, le coach nous a dit de continuer dans cette dynamique, de pousser, de ne pas nous précipiter. C’est ce qui nous a aidés pour bien gérer ce match. »
Est-ce la formule de cette nouvelle Ligue des champions, mais l’euphorie à peine retombée, le discours sur l’importance des trois points est très vite revenu dans la bouche des Monégasques. « Ce sont surtout ces points qui sont très importants, soulignait Caio Henrique. C’est un Championnat, donc c’est vraiment ça qu’on voulait. C’est juste le premier match. Mais maintenant, nos futurs adversaires peuvent s’attendre à un Monaco très fort, très fort mentalement, qui a va poser des problèmes à tout le monde. » Et comment passe-t-on son aprèsmatch après une telle victoire ? «En dormant, répondait Akliouche. Enfin, si on y arrive. »
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La gioia di Mohammed Salisu e dei monegaschi,
ieri vittoriosi sui catalani al loro esordio in Champions League.
«I nostri futuri avversari possono aspettarsi un Monaco molto forte»
Maghnes Akliouche, autore del primo gol monegasco ieri contro i catalani, ha valutato la portata dell'impresa del Monaco.
"È un piccolo sogno giocare la Champions League e segnare"
- MAGHNES AKLIOUCHE, CENTROCAMPISTA OFFENSIVO DEL MONACO
20 settembre 2024 - L'Équipe
ANTOINE MAUMON DE LONGEVIALLE
NOSTRO INVIATO SPECIALE PERMANENTE
MONACO – Pochi stadi offrono un contrasto così netto tra una serata di Ligue 1 e una di Champions League, ma aggiungeteci una vittoria (2-1) contro il Barça e capirete che lo stadio Louis-II ha vissuto una serata unica, e non solo perché Michael Jordan, la leggenda dei Chicago Bulls, era sugli spalti.
Non capita tutti i giorni di battere il Barça, e la durata degli abbracci di Adi Hütter con i membri del suo staff al fischio finale ne è stata la prova. Un'ora dopo la fine della partita, i sorrisi erano ancora smaglianti nei corridoi dello stadio monegasco.
Un anno fa, dopo la sua prima doppietta in Ligue 1 contro il Marsiglia (3-2, il 30 settembre 2023), Maghnes Akliouche era rimasto impassibile nel commentare il primo capolavoro della sua carriera. Questa volta, il centrocampista offensivo non ha nascosto la sua soddisfazione. “Siamo contenti di noi stessi, sono contento di me stesso”, ha commentato il primo marcatore. “Siamo semplicemente orgogliosi di noi stessi. È un piccolo sogno giocare in Champions League e segnare”.
Il 22enne ha riconosciuto che lui e i suoi compagni hanno ottenuto “una ricompensa”, senza però specificare quale. «Abbiamo fatto bene», ha sintetizzato Caio Henrique, entrato nell'ultima mezz'ora. Dopo l'espulsione, abbiamo visto che la partita era cambiata, che non avevamo più il possesso palla». «Sapevamo di essere in superiorità numerica, che facendo un po' di rotazione avremmo creato delle brecce nella difesa avversaria», ha proseguito Akliouche. All'intervallo, l'allenatore ci ha detto di continuare con questa dinamica, di spingere, di non affrettarci. È questo che ci ha aiutato a gestire bene la partita".
È forse merito del nuovo formato della Champions League, ma appena l'euforia si è placata, i monegaschi hanno subito ricominciato a parlare dell'importanza dei tre punti. «Sono soprattutto questi punti ad essere molto importanti», ha sottolineato Caio Henrique. «È un campionato, quindi è proprio quello che volevamo. È solo la prima partita. Ma ora i nostri futuri avversari possono aspettarsi un Monaco molto forte, molto forte mentalmente, che darà filo da torcere a tutti». E come si trascorre il post-partita dopo una vittoria del genere? «Dormendo», ha risposto Akliouche. «Beh, se ci riusciamo».
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