Overview
- Recently appointed coach Sébastien Pocognoli takes charge in Europe for the first time after Adi Hütter’s dismissal, with limited time to install his approach.
- Monaco lists multiple absences including Lukáš Hradecký, Éric Dier, Vanderson, Denis Zakaria, Lamine Camara and Paul Pogba, while Christian Mawissa and Lucas Michal return to the squad.
- Pocognoli promotes a work-first, physically demanding style built on a 3-4-2-1 and has stressed stronger collective defending to cut goals conceded.
- The group picture shows Monaco on one point after a 4-1 loss to Club Brugge and a 2-2 draw with Manchester City, while Tottenham has four points and comes off a 1-2 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa.
- Tottenham travels with some attacking absences, yet retains threats such as Richarlison, Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert, as Monaco’s attack seeks consistency with Ansu Fati leading the numbers and recent lifts from Folarin Balogun and Takumi Minamino.