Monaco (AFP)

"He's an exceptional player": Monaco coach Robert Moreno, on a mediocre one-point series taken in three league games, hopes a lot from Stevan Jovetic's return from injury, while ASM receives Tuesday (8:55 p.m.) Saint-Etienne in the 8th finals of the Coupe de France.

He was captain of Monaco in the previous round in Orléans against Saint-Pryvé / Saint-Hilaire (3-1), and goalscorer against Strasbourg on Saturday ... At 30, the Montenegrin striker should be at the top of his career, at peak of his glory. However, this is far from the case.

Prodigy adulated from a young age in Florence where he discovered Serie A at 18, he also played in Manchester City, Inter Milan or Seville. Each time, its technical qualities have amazed. But systematically, his body betrayed him.

And since his arrival in the Principality, it's worse. Landed against a check for 11 million euros and a four-year contract, in August 2017, Jovetic only played 25 Ligue 1 games on the Rock.

For two and a half years, injuries have been part of his daily life. Thus, last season, he injured a thigh and a knee against Nice (1-1, January 17, 2019). On his return, he just had time to offer a precious point by equalizing in additional time at Guingamp (1-1), before being victim, the following match against Reims, of a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the left knee.

- "Incredible will and perseverance" -

Since this disastrous April 13, 2019, "Jove", as Robert Moreno calls him, only thinks of returning to competition. Holder of the Cup, he has this season played two other little games, against Paris, then Strasbourg.

"He trains with incredible willpower and perseverance and feels prepared to play, explains Robert Moreno. But he has to be incorporated gradually. He has not been playing for a year. The stress of competition is not that of When you stay that long without playing, it’s hard to get the rhythm. "

However, the current Monegasque difficulties are such that the new coach will count on him against Saint-Etienne.

Especially since the captain of the Montenegrin selection is a pillar. Last season, young people like Sofiane Diop, now on loan to Sochaux, cited it as an example. "On each training, on each preparation, he shows that he is a great professional", agrees Moreno, who knows him well.

"When I was in Rome (Luis Enrique's assistant coach, editor's note), I had him as an opponent, he recalls. He is an exceptional player by his quality. I told him!"

- Ideal support for "WBY" -

And the former coach of La Roja to continue: "He is a different player, who has the quality to score or make the last pass. As a coach, you offer and ask things about the set-up and the structure of the team. But when that kind of player has the ball, it can happen. "

the right side Ruben Aguilar confirms. "Technically, it's something," he said. "It also allows the team to keep the ball well. It will do us good."

Attracted by the axis of the attack, Jovetic is, like Cesc Fabrégas, able to move between the lines. It is the ideal support of Wissam Ben Yedder, deprived of ammunition for two meetings, and the natural competitor of the Catalan, even if Moreno assures that they can be associated.

In any case, after the departure of Henry Onyekuru in Galatasaray and Jean-Kévin Augustin in Leeds, and with the case of Islam Slimani, deprived of playing time and announced therefore to be managed, "it's good to have a player like + Jove + with me, "smiles Moreno. However, it is now necessary to chain the matches.

© 2020 AFP