Thierry Henry and Didier Deschamps return to their old stomping ground as guests of owner Dmitry Rybolovlev to see Monaco fall to defeat by Atletico
- Monaco’s president Dmitry Rybolovlev paid tribute to France’s world champions
- Didier Deschamps was back in Stade Louis II on Tuesday for Champions League
- Thierry Henry also returned to former club as Monaco lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid
AS Monaco’s owner and president Dmitry Rybolovlev paid tribute to France’s world champions as his team opened their Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid.
Didier Deschamps was back in the Stade Louis II on Tuesday as a guest of billionaire Rybolovlev and his vice-president Vadim Vasilyev.
Deschamps launched his coaching career at Monaco in 2001 and guided them to success in the Coupe de France two years later and to the Champions League final in 2004.
(L-R) Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev, France manager Didier Deschamps, Monaco president Dmitry Rybolovlev and Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry
They were joined by Thierry Henry, who graduated from the club’s academy to become a world champion with France in 1998 before he secured his place as an Arsenal legend.
Henry, an assistant coach for Roberto Martinez at Belgium in the World Cup in Russia and beaten in the semi-finals by his native France, has quit his role as a pundit on Sky Sports to focus on his coaching career.
Deschamps was able to study the form of his France stars such as Antoine Griezmann, Lucas Hernandez and Thomas Lemar of Atletico, and Djibril Cisse of Monaco.
The home supporters also afforded a warm reception to Lemar who left them to join Atletico for £62million at the end of last season and came on as a second half substitute.
Sidibe was also part of the triumphant France squad in Russia, as were former Monaco favourites Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City and Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.
Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry returned to his old stomping ground on Tuesday night
Henry was at the game to check on Monaco’s Belgians Nacer Chadli and Youri Tielemans.
Rybolovlev watched the game with Prince Albert II as Atletico came back from behind to take the points in the Principality with a 2-1 win.
Monaco struck first through Samuel Grandsir but Diego Costa levelled and Jose Gimenez headed the winning goal from a corner in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Rybolovlev watched the game with Prince Albert II (right) as Atletico Madrid secured 2-1 win
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