AS Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu has his attention firmly set on their upcoming Champions League showdown with Turkish giants Galatasaray, insisting the team must respond decisively after their frustrating draw against Pafos FC.
Monaco were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Alphamega Stadium on Wednesday night, a result that left the French side ruing a squandered two-goal advantage. Salisu, who went the full 90 minutes, endured a mixed evening, scoring an unfortunate own goal but still producing a commanding display that earned him the Man of the Match award.
The Ghanaian centre-back admitted the team fell short in key defensive moments and stressed the need for improvement as they push for qualification from the group.
“This is a big lesson for us. We need to defend better in such games at difficult venues, especially at set-pieces. We knew Pafos were always going to be a threat. We also needed to ensure we took our opportunities at the other end. We’re still in the competition, but we must go to Galatasaray in the next Champions League game and get the three points,” he said after the match.
Monaco yet to receive bids for Salisu despite Olympiacos, Crystal Palace links
With four Champions League appearances under his belt this season, the 26-year-old remains a vital pillar in Monaco’s European campaign. Across all competitions, Salisu has featured 12 times and found the net once, further cementing his importance to Adi Hütter’s side.
Monaco now face a daunting trip to Istanbul, where victory against Galatasaray could prove decisive in shaping their Champions League destiny.
