Leonardo Jardim confident on Monaco growth in League

Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim says that the fight for the Champions League last 16 qualification will go to the last group match.

Monaco qualified for the Champions League after spending vast sums of money on players like James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao. Even though most of the high-profile signings have departed the club in the summer after budget cuts, they continue to remain in the Champions League group stages. They were given a fair chance of reaching the last 16 due to the group not having many top contenders like the Bayern Munich or Barcelona.

Even though Monaco have had just one win in the four matches up until now, they sit second in the table and it will be enough to see them through to the knockout stages. Bayern Leverkusen remain the overwhelming favourites to win the group, as they hold a four-point advantage over Monaco. The fight for the final qualification spot will go to the last match according toJardim. There have been a lot of rumours thatJardim could be sacked before Christmas after four run of form has left the club several points away from qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Zenit St Petersburg and Benfica are the other teams in Monaco’s Champions League group.

“It was a very even match, just as it was two weeks ago. Both teams had chances and Benfica were more clinical. They scored and we didn’t manage that.At this moment Leverkusen have an advantage given the points they have but it’s a very tight group. All four teams will be fighting to qualify until the end.Benfica are back on track. As I said, if they didn’t win they would be out; as they won, the fight will be until the finish,” said Jardim, whose team next take on table leaders Leverkusen.