5 clubs that are loved by neutrals

#2 Monaco

Kylian Mbappe is the brightest star amongst Monaco’s budding youngsters

Before this season, a mention of Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club or AS Monaco would quickly transport the fans back to the 1990s when Arsene Wenger was in charge and players such as Thierry Henry and Lilian Thuram emerged, or to the epic Champions League clash between Real and Madrid and the French club in 2004.

However, the club has been struggling since then and it is only in this decade that the resurgence has finally begun. After a few struggles with Financial Fair Play due to overspending, Monaco finally found the right formula to remain competitive by investing in elite youth while living within their means, as the commercial revenue for the Monaco-based club does not match up to their European counterparts.

It is this change in business model that makes Monaco the most exciting team in Europe and led by Leonardo Jardim, they sit atop Ligue 1 ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, and have scored more goals than the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich this season.

Every top team in Europe is after the budding young talents in Monaco’s locker with names such as Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva and Tiemoue Bakayoko reverberating on everyone’s lips.

When the Champions League quarter-finals get underway, there is no doubt as to which team the neutrals will be rooting for to go on and win the tournament.