Monaco’s Historic Collapse: Fifth Straight EuroLeague Loss Amid Salary Crisis
Unpaid salaries and mounting losses: a grim stretch for Monaco
Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket
AS Monaco Basket is going through an unprecedented crisis. The Roca Team suffered a fifth straight defeat Thursday night in Munich, falling 91–82 to Bayern Munich and recording the worst losing streak in the club’s EuroLeague history. Beneath the on-court collapse lies a stark reality: players have yet to be paid for December and January, fueling a toxic internal climate that is steadily derailing Monaco’s European campaign.
From Glory to Despair in Three Weeks
The transformation has been brutal. Just three weeks ago, Vassilis Spanoulis‘ squad sat third in EuroLeague standings, riding high on an eleven-game winning streak that nearly broke the club’s all-time record. The players seemed unstoppable, their confidence soaring as they dominated Europe’s elite competition.
Today, that same team finds itself stuck in a nightmare scenario. The current five-game skid matches the disastrous run that led to Zvezdan Mitrović’s dismissal in December 2021. The growing financial uncertainty has visibly weighed on the group, impacting players’ mental sharpness and leaving several key contributors well below their usual standards.
Key Players Struggling Under Pressure
The latest defeat in Munich, while not as embarrassing as their previous loss in Kaunas, revealed the depth of Monaco’s problems. The team’s defensive intensity vanished completely in the first half, allowing 48 points as players appeared distracted and unfocused.
Star guard Élie Okobo endured a particularly difficult week, averaging just 3 points on 30% shooting. The Bordeaux native wasn’t alone in his struggles, as Daniel Theis looked like a ghost during his return to Germany, managing only 2 points on 0/3 shooting in 29 minutes. The usually reliable duo of Alpha Diallo and Nikola Mirotic also faded into the background when their team needed them most.
Only Mike James maintained his elite level, pouring in 30 points on 11/19 shooting with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. However, one player’s brilliance couldn’t mask the collective malaise affecting the roster.
« It’s been two weeks that our concentration is not there, » Spanoulis told EuroLeague TV after the loss. « We get out of the game several times. In the first half, we don’t defend. I don’t want to repeat myself but it’s been two weeks that our concentration is absent. They tried but something is not there… »
With Milan sitting 11th and potentially closing to within one game of Monaco with a Friday victory, the Roca Team faces the very real possibility of falling out of play-in contention. Their European dreams are crumbling alongside their financial stability.
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