Hütter’s Side Suffers Nightmare Start at San Siro
AS Monaco’s Champions League ‘League Phase’ ended in disaster as they were dismantled 3-0 by Inter Milan on Wednesday, a brutal 16-minute spell sealing their fate at the iconic San Siro.
Early Chaos: Martinez Strikes, Mawissa Sees Red
Monaco’s hopes were dashed almost immediately. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 5th minute after Denis Zakaria’s clumsy challenge on Marcus Thuram. Just seven minutes later, Christian Mawissa’s reckless foul on Thuram left the referee with no choice but to brandish a red card.
Down to 10 men, Monaco’s misery deepened in the 16th minute when Martinez struck again, pouncing on a loose ball to double Inter’s lead. “Our start was a nightmare,†admitted Monaco manager Adi Hütter. “After the red card, the game was over.â€
Damage Control as Inter Fans Celebrate
With survival the new objective, Hütter sacrificed Maghnes Akliouche for defender Caio Henrique in the 19th minute. Monaco avoided further humiliation before the break, as Federico Dimarco wasted a golden opportunity to make it three. Meanwhile, Inter’s fans revelled in their dominance, even breaking into a Poznan celebration as they watched AC Milan struggle elsewhere.
Martinez Hat-Trick, Teze Injury Adds to Monaco’s Woes
Monaco reshuffled at halftime, withdrawing Thilo Kehrer and Lamine Camara to avoid suspensions. Yet Inter remained ruthless, and Martinez completed his hat-trick with a close-range finish. The night got even worse for Monaco when Jordan Teze suffered a serious quadriceps injury, forcing them to finish the game with nine men.
Marko Arnautovic could have added a late fourth, but the damage was done. “Some players were nervous to play in this stadium,†Hütter conceded, as Monaco now prepare for a tough Champions League play-off.
PSG or Benfica Await in Play-Off Round
Monaco must now regroup as they await Friday’s draw, where they will face either PSG or Benfica for a place in the last 16. Forward Breel Embolo made his preference clear: “We want revenge against Benfica,†referencing Monaco’s controversial defeat to the Portuguese side in November.
Regardless of the opponent, one thing is certain—Monaco must vastly improve if they hope to keep their European dream alive.