Matthis Abline arrives at Monaco’s next Ligue 1 night feeling restored. After an injury-disrupted start to the campaign, the former Nantes forward says he is back to full fitness as league leaders Monaco prepare to host Toulouse on Saturday.
The move
Abline joined Monaco seeking a different challenge after his time at Nantes, where the battle against relegation shaped much of the atmosphere around the club. At the Principality side, he has found a setting he believes is better suited to producing his best football.
“My start to the season was quite mixed because of the injury, but now I feel really good,” Abline said on Friday. “I have felt myself improving game by game. Now I am at 100%.”
The forward said Monaco’s working environment has also made a mental difference. “It is a different atmosphere to work in. It is something else, and it feels good mentally to be playing for more than survival. That was really what I wanted after the Nantes chapter. I am very happy to be here.”
Abline has yet to score for ASM, but he is not allowing that statistic to become a burden. His focus is on getting into dangerous positions and building the chances that should eventually bring a first Monaco goal.
“For a striker, the most important thing is creating opportunities and being in the right place,” he said. “At the moment, I think I am doing that. I am not obsessed with it. I do not tell myself that I absolutely have to score. If I perform well, I will create chances, and if I get chances, one can go in. I am calm about it.”
With strong competition for places in Monaco’s attack, Abline has also indicated that he can operate from a wide role if required, having done so previously in his career.
The French season around it
Monaco return from the international break at the top of Ligue 1 and welcome Toulouse for the sixth round of the season on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45.
Abline said the squad maintained its intensity despite the relatively long break from domestic competition. Monaco’s objectives have remained clear, he added, and the group is eager to return to league action.
For Abline, Saturday offers the immediate opportunity to turn renewed fitness and growing confidence into a more tangible contribution: a first goal in Monaco colours, while the leaders attempt to protect their position at the summit.
