Alain Roche praises Filipe Luis after Monaco win in Sofia
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
AS Monaco beat CSKA Sofia 2-1 in the Conference League, extending their unbeaten run to nine matches under new coach Filipe Luis.
AS Monaco opened their Conference League campaign with a 2-1 win away at CSKA Sofia on Thursday night, a result that keeps the club unbeaten after nine matches this season. The performance drew praise from former France international Alain Roche, speaking as a Canal+ consultant on the broadcast, who highlighted the defensive solidarity shown by the Monegasque side on the road.
Roche singled out the early impact of Brazilian coach Filipe Luis, who took charge of the first team over the summer. Describing the former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid full-back's start as impressive, Roche pointed to the balance Monaco have shown both at the Stade Louis II and away from home, a quality not always associated with sides adapting to a new coaching set-up.
For supporters following the club from the Rocher or the Fontvieille marina, the win in Bulgaria offers an early marker for how far Filipe Luis has shaped the squad since replacing the previous management. With the group still unbeaten domestically and now up and running in Europe, expectations are building ahead of the busy autumn fixture list that will test Monaco across both competitions.