Monaco captain Denis Zakaria admitted his frustration after his side failed to turn territorial control into victory in a goalless Ligue 1 derby draw with Nice on Sunday.
The two rivals cancelled each other out in a 0-0 stalemate at the Allianz Riviera in Matchday 21, a result that left AS Monaco with a point but little satisfaction.
While the visitors extended their defensive resilience by keeping a clean sheet, the outcome fell short of their stated ambition to leave the Côte d’Azur with maximum points.
Speaking after the final whistle, Zakaria made clear that Monaco’s objectives had not been met. “It’s a bit of a disappointment.
We came here to take the three points.
I think we didn’t do enough in the first half.
In the second half, we did a bit more, but we couldn’t score that goal that would have done us good.
We defended, we held on, and unfortunately, we couldn’t find that goal,” the Swiss international told Ligue 1+.
The match unfolded as a tense and tightly contested derby, with both sides cautious in the opening exchanges.
Monaco struggled to impose their usual rhythm during the first half, allowing Nice to remain comfortable without facing sustained pressure.
Chances were limited, and neither goalkeeper was seriously tested before the interval.
After the break, Monaco showed greater intent and pushed higher up the pitch in search of a breakthrough.
Zakaria and his midfield colleagues attempted to quicken the tempo and link play more effectively, but the final pass and finishing touch were missing.
Nice, meanwhile, defended compactly and looked to exploit spaces on the counter, ensuring the contest remained finely balanced.
Despite the improved second-half display, Monaco were unable to convert possession into clear scoring opportunities.
As the match wore on, the visitors focused on maintaining their defensive shape, mindful of the risks that come with over-committing in a derby atmosphere.
In the end, the goalless draw reflected the lack of cutting edge from both teams.
For Monaco, the clean sheet provided some consolation, but Zakaria’s assessment underlined a broader sense of missed opportunity.
The captain’s comments highlighted a belief within the squad that more was possible, particularly after the adjustments made following the interval.
The point keeps Monaco moving forward in the league campaign, but the derby ended without the decisive moment they were seeking.
For Zakaria and his team-mates, the focus now turns to improving consistency across 90 minutes, as they look to ensure that future performances are matched by the results they believe their efforts deserve.
