Last weekend, AS Monaco welcomed their new head coach, Sebastian Pocconioli, who officially arrived in Monaco and signed a coaching contract with the club that will be valid until June 2027. This week, he attended his first press conference with the club's CEO Thiago Scuro.  

Despite his young age, Sebastien Pocconioli has already earned widespread recognition for his strong character and excellent professional reputation. Last season, in his first season as first-team manager, he led Saint-Gillois to the Belgian League title. Now, he has officially taken over as head coach of Monaco. Ahead of his debut against Angers, Sebastien Pocconioli spoke to the media.  

Sebastian Pocognoli said: "Things are moving very quickly. I arrived in the country just a few days ago and quickly began to adapt to the team, the stadium and the entire city. I also met the staff and the players who were recovering. Completing all this in a short period of time saved me a lot of adaptation time. I had to respond quickly in all aspects. It was the sporting philosophy of this project that attracted me to join. The club's choice of a young coach like me is a bold and forward-looking decision, and I am very happy about it."  

"I was very encouraged by the fact that Monaco had expressed interest in me. After all, the fact that a French giant is willing to pay attention to a young coach who is coaching in Belgium is a kind of affirmation in itself, and it also makes me more confident in my work. I have been the target of interest from French clubs many times in my career, and Monaco is one of them. Interestingly, when they were considering signing me before, I happened to be sent off on the same day, and the deal fell through. Now I have the opportunity again, which makes me smile."  

"We share a common goal, which is to inject vitality and fresh blood into the team. Although the team has achieved certain results in recent years, I hope to build on this foundation and continue to adhere to my football philosophy. This is highly consistent with the overall direction of AS Monaco, which is one of the reasons why I was fortunate to be selected. At the same time, I also hope to incorporate my personality and tactical style into the game, work together with the core players of the team, guide the development of young players, and present exciting games that showcase the strength of the team for the fans."  

"I believe our squad is capable of adapting to a variety of tactical systems. No matter which style we adopt, I will make appropriate adjustments based on the team's strengths. This system worked very well at Saint-Gilloise United last year. Monaco is accustomed to using a four-at-the-back formation, which also brings new challenges and opportunities for us. We will flexibly adjust according to the specific circumstances of the game. The versatility of the lineup is our advantage and also provides more tactical possibilities. If we adopt a three-at-the-back formation, the wingers will play a crucial role in ball possession and defensive transitions."  

"I'm very familiar with Ligue 1, having followed its dynamics since childhood. AS Monaco, one of the traditional powerhouses in Ligue 1, is also well-known to me. So, I wasn't entering a completely unfamiliar environment. However, I still took the time to gain a deeper understanding of the club and the region. Generally speaking, I don't need a lot of research; I prefer to experience the atmosphere firsthand."  

"Regarding the club's ambitions, it's very similar to my experience at Royal Saint-Giroux this season. Back then, the team had to defend the league and Champions League titles consecutively, defending the titles every weekend while facing a high-intensity challenge with almost no rest before and after the European matches. From that perspective, our start to the season has been very good. The situation here is similar now, except that we're at Monaco, a big French club, and therefore receive even more attention. I'm really enjoying this high-intensity, regular training rhythm. It's a huge challenge for me, and I'm going to give it my all."