AS Monaco’s Champions League campaign came to a disappointing end after a dramatic 3-3 draw against Benfica in their play-off second leg, sealing their elimination from the competition.
Despite a spirited performance, the Ligue 1 side failed to overturn their 1-0 first-leg deficit, allowing the Portuguese giants to secure their place in the last 16.
Senegalese international Krépin Diatta, who featured in the match, expressed his deep frustration after the result, insisting that Monaco had been the superior team but failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
“Monaco was the better team”
Speaking in the mixed zone following the match, Diatta could not hide his disappointment over the outcome.
“There is a lot of frustration and disappointment today because I felt that the team had the space to go for qualification from the beginning to the end,” the 25-year-old told Monaco’s official website.
“Now, this result is hard to swallow because we gave everything. We are also very disappointed for our supporters who came in large numbers to encourage us here in Lisbon. The best team on the pitch was AS Monaco, but unfortunately, it was not enough.”
Missed opportunities from the first leg
While Monaco delivered an entertaining and intense display in the second leg, their downfall had arguably been set in motion in the first encounter.
The Ligue 1 side had already suffered a 2-3 defeat to Benfica in the group stage and struggled to recover from their narrow 1-0 loss in the first leg of the play-off tie.
Diatta acknowledged that the club’s defensive lapses proved costly over the two legs, making their uphill battle even steeper.
“Is the frustration greater in this match or in the first leg? A bit of both, because we lost at home,” he admitted. “If we had won at the Stade Louis-II, it would have been a direct qualification here because a draw was enough.
But we will learn from this double confrontation. Everyone fought and had the necessary grit to come back, unfortunately, it was not enough.”
Focus shifts to Ligue 1
With their European journey now over, Monaco must shift their attention back to domestic football, where they aim to secure a return to the Champions League next season.
Diatta emphasized the need for his team to channel their disappointment into their upcoming fixtures, starting with a crucial Ligue 1 clash against LOSC.
“There is a big match awaiting us this weekend in the Championship against LOSC, so we will have to move forward to be able to produce performances of this type in Ligue 1, in order to play in the Champions League again next season,” the Monaco winger added.
“It is clear that we are all very disappointed. But I want to take my hat off to my teammates, because I really felt a team that wanted to qualify tonight! Unfortunately, the football gods decided otherwise.”
Monaco will now look to regroup and refine their approach as they push for a top finish in Ligue 1, determined to secure a swift return to Europe’s elite competition.
