AS Monaco are currently 18th in Ligue 1, having picked up just six points from their opening nine matches.
As a result, Leonardo Jardim, won won the title just two seasons ago, has been sacked and this campaign will be about remaining in the top division.
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In 2016/17, Monaco cruised to the Champions League semi-final and wowed Europe with their attacking style in the process.
Since then, Kylian Mbappe, Tiemoue Bakoyoko, Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy, Thomas Lemar, Joao Moutinho and Fabinho have all departed, and with their exits, Monaco understandably couldn’t remain a top side.
Interestingly, it’s the absence of Fabinho which has supposedly affected Monaco the most.
Ligue 1 expert Nathan Staple told Get French Football News: “Fabinho was the mould that kept the side together, especially in some testing moments last season and the balance he gave to the team was integral to their success.
“Fabinho covered such extensive ground, was so intelligent defensively, while simultaneously linking defence to attack, that you almost have to replace him with two or three players in different positions just to make up for his strengths that have now departed the team.
“More than any loss they have had, his absence in the middle of midfield has been clearly felt the heaviest.”
The Brazilian hasn’t got into our first-team yet, but these quotes suggest that eventually he will.
He’ll now go away with his country for a few weeks before returning to the first-team.
With James Milner injured, the 24-year-old will surely be needed more often.