Monaco’s early lead has brought a flash of light to the Principality, but Filipe Luis is keeping the shutters down. The Brazilian coach has urged calm after five Ligue 1 rounds, insisting that his side cannot yet speak about a title challenge.
The move
Filipe Luis, 41, arrived at AS Monaco during the summer and has overseen a strong opening to the league campaign. Monaco have collected 13 points from their first five matches and will resume Ligue 1 at the summit.
They sit two points ahead of both Lyon and Paris FC, while Paris Saint-Germain are currently five points behind Monaco. Yet the former Atlético Madrid and Chelsea full-back has rejected any suggestion that his team should already measure themselves against the reigning European giants.
“We are not thinking about that,” Filipe Luis said when asked about the title race. “It is not realistic. We know the reality of the club. I am ambitious, very, very ambitious, but we have to go game by game.”
He was equally firm on PSG, describing the Paris club as beyond comparison for the rest of the division.
“We cannot compare ourselves with Paris,” he said. “Paris have won the last two Champions Leagues. They have not only been the best team in France over the past two seasons; they have been the best team in the world.”
The French season around it
Monaco’s sharp start comes after a seventh-place finish in the 2025-26 campaign, a position that earned them a place in the Conference League. Their European schedule begins on 15 October, when they host CSKA Sofia at 18:45.
The added continental fixtures will bring more travel and a heavier workload, one reason Filipe Luis refuses to be carried away by the table after five rounds.
- AS Monaco: 13 points after five Ligue 1 matches
- Lyon and Paris FC: two points behind Monaco
- Paris Saint-Germain: five points behind Monaco
- Conference League opener: Monaco v CSKA Sofia, 15 October at 18:45
“We know the reality: it will be a very long season,” the Monaco coach said. “A lot can happen. We take it match by match. At the end, we will see the real level of our team and we hope to be near the top of the table. We will keep working to win matches.”
