Ligue 1 2023/24: Analysing why Adi Hütter’s Monaco have been so prolific in attack – tactical analysis

Adi Hütter has enjoyed an excellent start to life in the dugout at Stade Louis-II, guiding AS Monaco to three wins and one draw from their first four games of the season, putting them two points clear of second-placed PSG.

Indeed, its still very early days and far too early to make any big conclusive statements with regard to the 53-year-old and his Monaco outfit. However, after spending a season out of the game following his May 2022 Borussia Mönchengladbach departure, its clear Hütter is reinvigorated, with this motivation manifesting itself in a Monaco side thats been operating on another level to their Ligue 1 competition, thus far in 2023/24.

Monaco are currently the top scorers in Frances top flight, having netted 13 times in their opening four games. This tactical analysis and team-focused scout report will focus primarily on how Hütter has engineered such a potent attack in the principality. Still, this analysis will focus on the teams strategy and tactics both in and out of possession, with both sides of the game playing a pivotal role in Monacos threatening attack.

Build-up and ball progression

Firstly, well take a look at how Hütters side approaches the early possession phases of build-up and, primarily, ball progression.

Monaco line up in a base 3-4-2-1 shape this season, and from the build-up, we typically see one centre-back step slightly wider while the other two get on either side of the goalkeeper. As they progress into the ball progression phase shortly after this, one centre-back moves more centrally while the other two take up fairly wide positions on either side of him.

This example in figure 1 is taken from a certain point in their Ligue 1 clash with Strasbourg earlier this season. With Monaco represented by the pink dots, attacking from left to right, we see how they essentially form a 3-2-4-1 shape in the progression phase, with the wing-backs positioning themselves high and wide on either side of the pitch, providing the offensive width for their side.

Monaco have been excellent at feeding their three forwards while progressing upfield this term. The wide centre-backs enjoy good progressive passing angles for the more advanced attackers to move about and try to give options to; meanwhile, an immense amount of credit needs to be handed to the forwards for continuously making such deceptive and difficult-to-track movements that create space for themselves in these advanced areas.

Its common to see the forward trio performing alt