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Cape Town - AS
Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim admits that his side are lacking
confidence ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Besiktas.
The French champions have picked up just a single point in Group G, having drawn with RB Leipzig and lost to FC Porto, and are beginning to feel the absence of last season’s star players who have moved on.
"You cannot be champions of France every year," Jardim said. "But for the players who arrive it is harder. When you arrive at the French champions, everyone has dreams.
"The problem is that they lack the confidence to do things well. We must remain at the level of champions of France. Sometimes you're down, but you have to work to get back, that's life.
"The most difficult thing is juggling the league and the Champions League. There are only five or six clubs in Europe capable of performing in both competitions every season.
"This is my fourth Champions League campaign. The team and I know very well that every match is tough. It's a competition where you are punished straight away for the slightest mistake."
Besiktas sit top of the group after two wins, with Porto second on three points. "We need to win to qualify," Jardim insisted. "If we do not win, first place will be difficult to reach and we will probably have to aim for the second."
Kick off is at 20:45.
