New Monaco boss Pocognoli looks to follow footprint of former United coach Van Gaal

Monaco's new coach Sebastien Pocognoli is looking to take inspiration from his old boss Louis van Gaal as he tries to kick-start the Ligue I club's season after a sluggish start to the campaign that cost his predecessor his job.

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Austrian coach adiHuetter was fired last week with Monaco having won just one of their last five matches a run which includes a 4-1 hammering by Club Brugge in the Champions League, and a 3-1 domestic defeat at newly-promoted Lorient

It was an alarming drop in form for a team that came third in Ligue I last season and had been hoping to produce a more credible domestic challenge to Paris Saint-Germain while also making an impression in Europe.

Huetter, who had been in charge since July 2023, has been replaced by the relatively inexperienced Pocognoli, a 38-year-old former Belgian international lured from Union Saint-Gilloise.

"I am going to come with principles, which must match those of Monaco because that is why they chose me," Pocognoli said at his unveiling.

"I like the fact that the club showed an interest in a young coach, and I think such an approach is daring in itself," added Pocognoli, who played under Van Gaal in the AZ Alkmaar side that won the Dutch title in 2009.