Cesc Fabregas believes Thierry Henry could have succeeded at Monaco had he been given more time. Henry managed only 15 points from 21 matches in charge of Monaco, with the club sitting second-bottom of Ligue 1, and the 41-year-old was replaced by his predecessor, Leonardo Jardim, at the weekend. The Frenchman convinced former Arsenal team-mate, Fabregas, to join him at the Stade Louis II but their reunion was ultimately short-lived.
Fabregas started all three games under Henry but the former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder now must adjust to life under Jardim, with Monaco desperate to propel themselves away from danger
Asked about Henry’s sacking ahead of Monaco’s clash with Guingamp, Fabregas replied: ‘Football doesn’t wait for anyone. ‘Unfortunately, maybe he didn’t have the right time to make all his plans. Now we are in a new situation.’
Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev defended his decision to replace Henry with Jardim. ‘Our club is going through a very challenging period.
I am ready to admit that I personally bear the responsibility for this,’ he said. ‘We have to acknowledge that during the summer transfer window, we sold too many key players and, despite considerable investments, mistakes were made with respect to their replacement.
‘This did not allow us to create a new, competitive team. The decision to dismiss Leonardo Jardim was also premature. ‘Leonardo Jardim’s time at AS Monaco, as I said when he departed, would be remembered as one of the brightest chapters in the club’s history.