Monaco have the firepower to win Ligue 1 but Adi Hütter is holding them back in Europe

The illusion of progress at the Stade Louis II

AS Monaco's project heading into the 2025-26 season is a fascinating paradox. On one hand, the principality club has assembled arguably the most exciting young squad in France, capable of playing breathless, high-octane football that leaves opponents chasing shadows. On the other hand, they are a team entirely reliant on a tactical setup that routinely collapses under real pressure.

Adi Hütter has been praised for bringing an attractive brand of football back to the Mediterranean coast, but the Austrian manager is living on borrowed time. His stubbornness is the very thing holding Monaco back from becoming a genuine heavyweight. They might have the firepower to push a weakened Paris Saint-Germain for the Ligue 1 title, but their Champions League ambitions look like a pipe dream unless fundamental changes are made to how this team defends.

A midfield built on glass and a glaring lack of depth

The engine room is where Monaco's problems truly begin. When Denis Zakaria is fully fit, he is a force of nature. He breaks up opposition attacks, shields the backline, and drives the ball forward with terrifying intent. He is the glue holding Hütter's chaotic system together. The issue is that Zakaria's injury record is a massive red flag, and sporting director Thiago Scuro has failed spectacularly to provide a capable understudy.

When Zakaria inevitably misses six weeks with a hamstring issue, the midfield turns into a gaping void. Soungoutou Magassa is a promising talent, but asking a 21-year-old to anchor a midfield against elite European opposition is practically managerial malpractice. Without a physical enforcer to break up play, Monaco's defense is repeatedly exposed on the counter. Opposing teams know that if you bypass the initial press, you have a free run at the penalty area.

At the back, the situation isn't much better. Wilfried Singo has developed into a top-tier defender, but the depth chart behind him is terrifyingly thin. Thilo Kehrer remains prone to catastrophic lapses in concentration, often giving the ball away in dangerous areas. In a 38-game domestic season plus a gruelling Champions League campaign, relying on this backline feels like playing Russian roulette. They leaked exactly 42 goals in the league last year, a defensive record that simply doesn't scream title contender.

Folarin Balogun's make-or-break campaign

Up front, the narrative centers entirely on Folarin Balogun. The American international was brought in for a hefty fee to be the focal point of the attack, but his tenure so far has been maddeningly inconsistent. He shows flashes of the ruthless finisher we saw at Reims, only to disappear completely in high-stakes matches.

With Wissam Ben Yedder's departure still looming large over the squad, Balogun no longer has the luxury of settling into games or hiding behind a veteran presence. He is the undisputed main man. Monaco desperately need him to be a 20-goal striker, especially in those tight, gritty away fixtures against low-block teams like Brest or Lille where they historically drop stupid points. If Balogun fails to hit the ground running, Monaco's title challenge will be effectively dead by November.

The supporting cast of Aleksandr Golovin, Takumi Minamino, and Maghnes Akliouche provides plenty of creativity, but they need a reliable target. Akliouche, in particular, looks ready to explode into a genuine superstar this season. His ability to find pockets of space between the lines is exceptional, but his final ball often goes to waste when the central striker isn't making the right runs.

Hütter's tactical naivety on the European stage

The most frustrating aspect of this Monaco team is their manager's refusal to adapt. Hütter's high-pressing, front-foot system is fantastic for swatting aside lower-table domestic opposition, but it is brutally exposed in Europe. You cannot play a high line with slow center-backs against the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or even a competent Aston Villa.

Against PSG last February, Hütter opted for a suicidal tactical approach that resulted in an embarrassing 3-1 humbling at the Parc des Princes. It was a masterclass in naivety. In the Champions League, where tactical flexibility and pragmatism are paramount, Hütter has consistently shown he lacks a Plan B. If he attempts to deploy the same chaotic system in the group stages this year, Monaco will be picked apart by any team with a competent transition game.

There is a stark difference between playing brave football and playing stupid football. Right now, Monaco frequently cross that line. They commit too many bodies forward, leave massive gaps in the half-spaces, and rely entirely on individual brilliance to bail them out of trouble. That might work against Angers, but it will get you annihilated against Arsenal.

The final verdict

Monaco have a unique opportunity this season. With PSG in a state of transition and lacking their usual aura of invincibility, the Ligue 1 title is genuinely there for the taking. If Balogun finds his shooting boots and Zakaria stays out of the treatment room, they can push the Parisians all the way to May.

But expectations for a deep Champions League run need to be severely tempered. Until Hütter learns how to set up a low block and Scuro addresses the glaring holes in the squad's depth, Monaco remain a spectacular glass cannon. They are capable of scoring three goals at the Bernabéu, but they are equally capable of conceding four. It is going to be a wild, thoroughly entertaining campaign for the fans, but one that is likely to end in European heartbreak.