Monaco and money power

PARIS, APRIL 16. Monaco, in winning its seventh league title on Saturday after a 2-2 home draw with Nancy, showed that when push comes to shove, money still talks biggest in French football.

With a budget of $30 million, much of it put up by Prince Rainier's principality authorities, the Monegasques are out in front on the financial front with Paris Saint Germain and Marseille struggling to stay in the same league.

The champions, founded in 1916, have just 1,000 season ticket holders and their Stade Louis II ground holds barely 16,000 fans. In terms of fans, that makes the first side to wrap up the championship in Europe this season not so much bigger than little Calais, French Cup finalist - except that fourth division Calais' budget is 200 times smaller.

But the cash injections from outside keep Monaco comfortably in the premier league when it comes to upholding the mini-State's good name in the sporting world.

Several of the stars who lifted their last title three seasons ago under Jean Tigana, just appointed by English first division Fulham, are still with the club, with Fabien Barthez the most notable survivor.

World Cup winner Barthez was all set to move to Manchester United last summer but Monaco offered him a king's ransom to stay on the Mediterranean coast - to the delight of his supermodel companion Linda Evangelista.

Although French international forward Thierry Henry chose to move on to Juventus two seasons ago prior to a transfer to Arsenal, former sidekick David Trezeguet has stayed put - though for how long is by no means clear.

It was a Trezeguet goal which knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League two seasons ago at Old Trafford.

After placing fourth last season, Monaco added Italian striker Marco Simone to the squad after he had spent an unhappy, underachieving two seasons at Paris Saint Germain and he and Trezeguet have managed almost 40 league goals between them this term.

Another key signing was Argentine midfield star Marcelo Gallardo, a huge success despite an occasionally suspect temperament. Former Auxerre star Sabri Lamouchi has also done well in the middle of the park where Ali Benarbia, now of PSG, had pulled the strings on way to the 1997 title.

For president Jean-Louis Campora the title triumph is another opportunity to put the club on the world map. ``We won with an exciting blend of experience and youth and now our reward is to spread our good name abroad and compete in the Champions League.''

For Trezeguet the title win was a vindication of Monaco's insistence on playing flamboyantly. ``I think that with our 60 goals and more we will have given neutrals a lot of pleasure,'' the striker said.

However, Barthez did have one regret after Saturday's Nancy match. ``The fans whistled and jeered us a bit today and that shows a lack of respect. That's my only real regret,'' the 'keeper said.

- DPA

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