Chương 15: Ruffier’s Heroics at Louis II
On September 28, in the seventh round of Ligue 1, Monaco faced Lille at home.
Half an hour before kickoff, Chairman De Bontin and Prince Albert of Monaco were seated in the royal box, awaiting the start of the match.
The two exchanged views on Monaco's recent form, following their last two games.
"This Chinese coach has really been a surprise," remarked Prince Albert. "Losing to Lorient at home was an ugly blow, but the back-to-back victories against big clubs like Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain were incredibly exciting!"
Prince Albert was clearly pleased with the team's recent performances.
De Bontin nodded and smiled. "The most important thing is how the team is playing. They're showing real passion on the pitch, and their mental state is far better than before."
Prince Albert, suddenly remembering something, asked, "What about ticket sales today? Are the fans still protesting against Coach Situ?"
De Bontin's smile faded slightly, and he shook his head. "Not very encouraging. While ticket sales are higher than for the midweek League Cup match, they still aren't meeting our expectations. For an opponent like Lille at home, ticket sales should typically be well above average, but today they're only marginally higher. I think a significant portion of our supporters are still taking a wait-and-see approach with Situ Yunbing."
Prince Albert's expression grew more thoughtful, and with a hint of sadness, he replied, "The fans have endured a long period of disappointment and decline. It's going to take time for them to believe that Monaco's resurgence will last."
Unlike De Bontin, Prince Albert had personally witnessed the club's fall over the past three years. He understood the deep skepticism that lingered within the fanbase.
Could Situ Yunbing truly turn things around?
He wasn't sure.
Like many doubtful supporters, Prince Albert felt that two wins weren't enough to prove anything substantial. It could simply be a temporary boost in form, but it might not signify a genuine turnaround for the club.
...
In the dressing room, Situ Yunbing was in the middle of delivering an impassioned tactical briefing to his players when suddenly, the door burst open.
"Situ Yunbing! You want to see me fail, don't you? Why did you abandon me? You owe me an explanation today!"
Everyone in the dressing room froze in shock, turning to see Freddy Adu standing at the entrance, furious and glaring at Situ Yunbing.
Assistant coach Emmanuel Petit glanced at the other coaches and signaled them to remove Adu from the room.
As Biancarelli and Markel, two nearly 40-year-old coaches, began walking towards Adu, Situ Yunbing raised his hand to stop them.
He stared at Adu with a look of confusion before calmly asking, "And why do you think you deserve to stay in this team?"
Adu, not backing down, replied bluntly, "Isn't my talent enough to earn me a place here?"
Situ Yunbing's expression remained neutral as he responded coldly, "From a technical standpoint, yes, you have ability. But in terms of mentality, tactical awareness, and understanding of the team dynamic, you are sorely lacking."
Situ Yunbing then gestured towards the rest of the players in the locker room and continued, "They may not have the same 'genius' label that you do, but they fight with everything they've got on the pitch. They run until they have no energy left, they listen to the coach, they absorb instructions, and they carry them out on the field. These qualities are what earn my trust, not just talent alone.
From your words and behavior, it's clear to everyone that you don't respect me. In that case, there's no point in wasting time. You're no longer part of Monaco and have nothing to do with this club anymore.
It doesn't make sense for you to stay here and argue with me."
Situ Yunbing paused, then added, "We worked together briefly, so here's some advice: take a moment to reflect on yourself. Ask yourself why you couldn't secure a place at Benfica. Understanding that will only help your career going forward.
And frankly, I don't want to waste any more time communicating with you. You don't belong to Monaco. My energy and focus are for them—the real Monaco players."
Situ Yunbing's words seemed to resonate with the players in the dressing room, who visibly straightened up with pride. Many of them had grown tired of Adu's presence, his so-called "genius" aura, and his volatile temperament, which made him act like a star far beyond his contributions.
Adu had been labeled a prodigy by Pelé himself at a young age and had once been hailed as the number one talent of his generation by European media. He had set records in the United States, but those early years had been filled with hype and business interests, stunting his proper development. When he failed to establish himself at Benfica, he was loaned to Monaco. Now, after being sent back, Adu knew his prospects in Benfica were dim, leading to his outburst.
Many of the Monaco players felt that Adu deserved his fate. They had no interest in welcoming back those who had been demoted to the reserves. The team was finally coming together, and they didn't want any disruptive influences to mess with their current harmony.
Regardless of what the fans thought of Situ Yunbing, over the past two months, he had earned the respect and support of the locker room.
Adu scanned the room, glancing at the indifferent faces of his teammates before turning around and storming out, his rage quickly fading to cold resignation.
Situ Yunbing sighed, then turned to his players, clapping his hands. "Let's not let this little episode distract us. Remember, we need to approach today's game in the right mindset and beat Lille!"
The players responded in unison, their voices loud and filled with determination: "Beat Lille!"
Situ Yunbing stood by the door and shook hands with every player as they left the dressing room, heading onto the field. This time, unlike the game against Lorient, the handshakes were firm and purposeful, accompanied by words of encouragement. The players nodded to him with conviction.
They were ready to fight for Situ Yunbing.
Once everyone had left, Situ Yunbing pulled out his tablet in the empty locker room. After a brief moment of consideration, he tapped the "+" sign next to Ruffier's name.
He activated the "Mandanda" card for his goalkeeper.
Next, he selected the "Niang" card and applied it to Meriem.
He hesitated for a second, contemplating whether to use another card, but ultimately decided against it.
Situ Yunbing often found himself reluctant to use the cards unless absolutely necessary. Perhaps it was the gamer mentality in him—always wanting to save the best items for later, just in case. He wasn't sure when the right moment to use them would come, but for now, he decided to hold onto them.
As he walked out into the Louis II Stadium, Situ Yunbing noticed the stands were much fuller than during the midweek match against Paris Saint-Germain. The crowd size was comparable to the one during the Lorient game two weeks prior.
His spirits lifted at the sight.
What Situ Yunbing didn't account for was that Lille was a more attractive opponent than Lorient, so the increase in fans wasn't exactly the result of "positive growth" in his favor.
Out of habit, he looked over to the visiting team's dugout, where he spotted Lille's manager, Rudi Garcia. The two coaches made brief eye contact and nodded in greeting.
Garcia, a respected figure in Ligue 1, would go on to reach even greater heights a few years later while managing AS Roma.
As the starting players from both teams took to the pitch, hand in hand, Situ Yunbing was surprised to notice that Eden Hazard, Lille's rising star and future global sensation, wasn't listed among the starters.
It was unexpected.
Alonzo's pre-match analysis had anticipated Hazard starting, but even when scanning the substitutes' bench, Situ Yunbing couldn't spot him. He realized that Hazard wasn't even part of the matchday squad.
Perhaps the young Belgian hadn't fully adapted to Lille's schedule or form in the past few days.
The Louis II Stadium buzzed with energy as Monaco fans cheered, hoping to inspire their team before kickoff. As for whether they fully supported Situ Yunbing, it didn't seem to matter for now.
The team was performing well, and the fans supported that. But if things went south, Situ Yunbing knew he would be the first to face the backlash.
...
...
"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the highlight of the 7th round of Ligue 1!
Tonight, Monaco hosts Lille at the Louis II Stadium. Both teams come into this match level on points in the standings, with two wins, two draws, and two losses each, giving them 8 points.
They trail the league leaders, Lyon, by 8 points, so both sides are hungry to close the gap.
Monaco arrives at this fixture on the back of an impressive 3-1 away victory over Marseille, showing signs of a resurgence under coach Situ Yunbing. Lille, meanwhile, also secured a 3-2 win over Toulouse in their last game, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting battle tonight!
Now, let's take a closer look at the starting lineups.
Monaco, under Situ Yunbing, sticks with the 4-5-1 formation that has served them well in recent weeks. Stéphane Ruffier, ever-reliable, starts in goal. At the back, Dario Šimić occupies the right-back position, with François Modesto and the young Nicolas Mongongu forming the central defensive partnership. Vincent Muratori takes his place at left-back.
In midfield, Juan Pablo Pino starts on the right wing, bringing speed and creativity, while Yohan Mollo holds the left wing. The central trio sees Diego Pérez providing a defensive shield, Camel Meriem orchestrating play, and Jerko Leko offering experience and balance.
Leading the line as the lone striker is the powerful Djamel Bakar Nimani, who will be looking to build on his recent performances, including the impressive victory against Marseille.
On the other side, Rudi Garcia's Lille comes out in an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation. In goal is Grégory Malicki. In defense, Mathieu Debuchy lines up at right-back, with Franck Béria and Aurélien Chedjou in the center, and Grégory Tafforeau on the left.
Their midfield consists of the tenacious Rio Mavuba, who will be key in dictating the tempo, alongside the hard-working Florent Balmont and the playmaker Yohan Cabaye. Up front, Lille's attack is led by Róbert Vittek, flanked by Túlio de Melo and the dangerous Michel Bastos, whose flair and creativity can cause problems for any defense.
Lille's setup signals their ambition to come away with all three points, but Monaco will look to keep their recent momentum going at home.
The game is about to kick off, so stay with us as we witness this highly anticipated contest!"
...
...
Ligue 1 has long been a fertile ground for developing talented young players, often feeding the top European clubs with fresh talent. This tradition is one of the reasons why Ligue 1 is regarded as a breeding ground for the youth academies of European giants, consistently producing top-class players year after year.
Lille has excelled in this regard over the past few seasons.
Looking at their lineup today, it's clear why. The starting goalkeeper, 35-year-old Grégory Malicki, is currently standing in for the injured Ludovic Butelle, who has been sidelined for the season. This is one of Lille's biggest concerns right now.
On the backline, Mathieu Debuchy and Yohan Cabaye in midfield stand out as two of France's brightest young prospects. When you add Adil Rami and Eden Hazard—who aren't playing today—it becomes clear that Lille's crop of young talent is of a much higher quality compared to Monaco's.
Situ Yunbing couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as he surveyed Lille's lineup. With it already being September when he took charge, there was little he could do until the winter transfer window. That's why he remains committed to cleaning out the squad, freeing up space for new signings.
How could Monaco bring in new blood without making room?
As the referee blew the whistle, the match between Monaco and Lille kicked off.
Monaco fans at the Louis II Stadium were in full voice, cheering their team with rhythmic chants.
Monaco looked to continue their momentum from the previous two games, combining quick, simple attacking play with solid defensive organization.
But in the 3rd minute, Lille launched a swift counterattack after successfully transitioning from defense to offense. Debuchy advanced down the right flank, speeding past Yohan Mollo to receive the ball. He fired a diagonal pass into the center, where Yohan Cabaye made himself available. Meriem and Leko quickly closed in, attempting to shut him down, but Cabaye pulled off a clever dummy, letting the ball slip past him before turning sharply and charging forward. The move caught the Monaco midfielders off guard, and Cabaye surged past Pérez after a delicate diagonal pass.
Brazilian winger Michel Bastos collected the ball on the left wing and began to accelerate towards the byline. Šimić raced to keep up, but just as he accelerated, Bastos pulled the ball back with a quick cut inside. Šimić was thrown off balance, allowing Bastos to continue his run.
With Juan Pablo Pino backtracking to help, Bastos opted for a cross into the box.
In the penalty area, Cabaye had made a darting run towards the near post, while center forward Túlio de Melo positioned himself centrally, drawing Modesto and Mongongu towards him. Bastos whipped in the cross, sending the ball to the far post.
Róbert Vittek, Lille's tall right-winger, came charging in to meet the ball, locking horns with Muratori. At nearly 190 cm, Vittek had the clear physical advantage, and Muratori struggled to match him in the aerial duel.
Instead of heading the ball directly on goal, Vittek outmuscled Muratori and cushioned the header towards the top right corner.
Situ Yunbing stood on the touchline, his heart in his throat. Lille's counterattack had been dazzling, from Cabaye's clever play to Bastos' pinpoint delivery.
Just as it seemed certain that the ball would nestle into the back of the net, Stéphane Ruffier made a spectacular diving save, stretching out a single palm to tip the ball away!
Vittek stood in disbelief, hands on his head, unable to comprehend how Ruffier had kept it out.
As Ruffier got back to his feet, he let out a roar, then high-fived Mongongu with force.
"Vittek's header looked destined for the top corner, but Ruffier produced a world-class save! Monaco's goalkeeper shines once again!" exclaimed the commentator.
Situ Yunbing breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines. His decision to use the "Mandanda" card on Ruffier before the game was paying off.
Without that boost, Ruffier may not have made the save.
Lille's coach, Rudi Garcia, remained calm despite the missed opportunity, showing little sign of frustration.
However, Situ Yunbing wasn't fully at ease. Monaco's attempt to press Lille hadn't worked, primarily due to Cabaye's exceptional ball control in tight spaces. His ability to maneuver out of challenges allowed Lille to maintain their attacks, making Monaco's pressing less effective.
If there was any consolation for Situ Yunbing, it was that Lille wouldn't be able to break through the midfield that easily every time.
In the 9th minute, Monaco launched an attack down the left flank, with Mollo and Nimani combining well to reach the byline. Mollo sent in a cross, but it lacked direction, and Meriem arrived just a step too late. Lille's left-back, the experienced Grégory Tafforeau, collected the ball and quickly launched a counterattack.
Lille had clearly come prepared, exploiting every chance to transition quickly between defense and attack.
Bastos, now tracking back to support his team, received the ball but was immediately closed down by Pérez. With no space to operate, Bastos passed the ball back to Florent Balmont in midfield. Lille's midfield trio, though physically unimposing—none taller than 180 cm—were quick and agile, able to break through Monaco's lines with fluid movement.
Balmont quickly surveyed his options before launching a long diagonal pass towards the right wing, aiming for Vittek, who again found himself in a physical contest with Muratori.
Vittek, using his height and strength, brought the ball down on his chest despite Muratori's close marking. But Mongongu, reading the play well, stepped in decisively and dispossessed Vittek before he could mount a challenge. Vittek tried to press from behind, but Mongongu shielded the ball effectively and passed it off to Leko.
Situ Yunbing, watching from the sidelines, nodded in approval. Monaco's defense was holding up well, and after two consecutive wins, the confidence of their younger players had visibly improved.
Leko moved the ball quickly upfield, sending a diagonal pass to Mollo on the left. The young winger collected it well, but before he could gain any momentum, Debuchy slid in with a perfectly timed tackle, cutting out the attack.
Situ Yunbing's expression tensed—he had been hoping for Monaco's counterattack to catch Lille off guard, but it was clear that Lille had done their homework.
Rudi Garcia's side had prepared meticulously for this match. He knew Monaco's style had shifted under Situ Yunbing, becoming more pragmatic and focused on quick transitions. Garcia's game plan was simple: counter Monaco's counterattack. Rather than sitting deep, Lille were pressing high and disrupting Monaco's rhythm, matching them blow for blow in individual battles across the pitch.
It was a tactical chess match.
Debuchy, after his interception, played a long ball down the right flank, once again targeting Vittek's physical dominance against Muratori.
This time, Vittek opted to head the ball backwards instead of controlling it. Leko, caught off guard, turned around just in time to see Cabaye rushing forward to collect the ball in stride.
Cabaye easily sidestepped Pérez, who tried to close him down, and slid a perfectly weighted diagonal ball into the left side of the penalty area.
Bastos made a sharp run into the box and, without hesitation, fired a first-time volley towards the far corner of the net.
Ruffier, once again, came to Monaco's rescue, diving to his left and getting just enough of his hand on the ball to deflect it. Mongongu swiftly cleared the rebound for a corner.
Bastos, like Vittek earlier, looked stunned.
"Unbelievable! Stéphane Ruffier with yet another sensational save! That's twice now Lille looked certain to score, and twice Ruffier has denied them! Lille is in great form tonight, constantly threatening Monaco's defense, but Ruffier is standing tall!" exclaimed the commentator.
Rudi Garcia, normally composed, couldn't help but glance skyward in frustration. Vittek's header was one thing, but Bastos' strike really should have been a goal.
Monaco was under pressure at home, and the test was only beginning.
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