A dream evening. Established in support of Folarin Balogun and Wissam Ben Yedder last Saturday against Olympique de Marseille (3-2), Maghnes Akliouche dazzled the Stade Louis-II and the viewers, by scoring a double – including the winning goal – and delivering a decisive pass to the ex-Rémois. An XXL performance all the more impressive as the young attacking midfielder was confined, since the start of the season, to a substitute role. If he had the opportunity to start, and therefore to shine, last weekend, it is because Aleksandr Golovin (suspension) and Takumi Minamino (injury), usual starters in the offensive sector, were absent. “He did enormous preparation. It’s just a shame…Finally, it’s good for us that there are two players in front of him who were better and who showed it in August. Maghnes did not stop working and showed off his talent this evening,” summarized Youssouf Fofana, the Monegasque captain, after the success against the Phocaeans.
His great performance must, without a doubt, give Adi Hütter a headache. And in particular with a view to the trip to the pitch at the Stade de Reims, Saturday evening (9 p.m.), an important meeting to maintain the lead in the championship. “We could see that Maghnes had a fantastic match against Olympique de Marseille. […] The only question to ask on my side is to choose the right option depending on the opponent. It’s all a question of circumstances. It makes it even more difficult for me to make choices once again, but I like being in this position,” said the Rocher team coach this Thursday at a press conference.
Concretely, with Maghnes Akliouche, Folarin Balogun, Wissam Ben Yedder, Aleksandr Golovin, Takumi Minamino – without counting Myron Boadu, who seems to be a step behind, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Breel Embolo, still injured -, the Austrian technician has numerous players …for only three places in front. Obviously, the competition is very tough. “They are very good players and when we come home from training, we have headaches (smile). They do us a lot of good in attack. The competition is positive in all positions and this allows us to pull the group upwards,” Wilfried Singo insisted this Thursday in front of journalists before the match against Stade de Reims.
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And the one who is under contract with AS Monaco until June 2026 has plenty to tip the scales in his favor. First, he has had a remarkable start to the season. Indeed, he has (already) recorded three goals and an assist…in just one hundred and nineteen minutes of play. Statistics which have nothing to envy, for example, to those of his Russian competitor, who has two achievements and an offering…in five hundred and twenty-five minutes.
Then, he is extremely promising and could embody, particularly with Folarin Balogun, the future of the Monegasque offensive sector. As proof, with his three goals and his assist, he is neither more nor less than the most decisive player born in the 21st century at the start of the 2023-2024 financial year, according to Ligue 1 statistics. His selection with the France Espoirs team, this week, also speaks for itself. One thing is certain, with his performances, Maghnes Akliouche will have other opportunities to express himself in the coming weeks. And this, perhaps as early as this Saturday evening.
