Conte refuses to sit on bench – coach Moniz rants

Cheick Conte was supposed to be on the bench against YB, but that didn't suit the Guinean.Image: trapezoid

Although the match between the leaders and the defending champions was scoreless, FC Zurich's match against Young Boys still attracted a lot of attention. On one side, YB forward Joël Monteiro was distraught over a missed penalty and accidentally hit opposing defender Mirlind Kryezu. As a result, the 25-year-old Natty player saw a red card.

However, there is a second episode that is now causing heated debate. This happened in the Zurich dressing room before the game. Cheick Condé – originally the undisputed regular – refused to sit on the bench. The 24-year-old Guinean even made a lot of noise in the dressing room, as FCZ coach Ricardo Moniz said after the game. “It's so embarrassing,” Moniz said.

“If he had a different opinion, he should become a tennis player.”

FCZ coach Ricardo Moniz

The Dutch coach explained that football is a team sport, not an individual one. “If he thought differently, he should become a tennis player,” Moniz muttered. Conte is a great player, and Moniz believes it's his job to help his protégé “make the step he wants to take in January.” But to do that, you also have to be on the bench. “

FCZ coach Ricardo Moniz during the Superliga football match between FC Zurich and BSC Young Boys at the Letzigrund Arena in Zurich on Saturday, November 2, 2024. (KEYSTONE/Walter Bieri)

'It's so embarrassing': FCZ coach Ricardo Moniz had a clear word for Cheick Condé.Image: trapezoid

Conte had hoped to leave the club in the summer but was unhappy that foreign transfers were rejected. When Moniz only wanted to use him as a substitute after his yellow card suspension, Conte apparently gave up on him. The defensive midfielder was in the stands to witness the 0-0 draw with Bern.

«I have never experienced this before. I think he's tired of it. “

FCZ coach Ricardo Moniz

«I have been in professional business since 1981. I've never experienced this before. I think he's tired of it,” Moniz explained, making clear: “He's solved his problems. This can have dire consequences. “The 60-year-old Dutchman hopes to discuss these with FCZ president Ancillo Canepa and sporting director Milos Malenović this Sunday.

This is not the first scandal between a football club's coaches and players. In the 94th match of the first round of the cup, local player Rabinot Bajrami insulted the coach and was substituted shortly after being substituted. Bajrami's father then threw an umbrella in the direction of coach Moniz. The striker was subsequently picked up and loaned to FC Winterthur. (NIH)

Coach of FC Zurich since 1991

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Coach of FC Zurich since 1991

He has managed the Letzgrund Arena and won titles.

Source: keystone/christoph ruckstuhl

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