Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu is set to reach a major milestone in his career as he prepares to make his UEFA Champions League debut against Barcelona on Thursday. The Ghanaian centre-back sees this fixture as a critical test, especially as Monaco continue their impressive unbeaten run in Ligue 1.
Speaking exclusively to Flashscore, Salisu said, “Yeah, I think this will be my debut in the Champions League and it’s an important game for the team and for me as well, so we need to focus on the game.”
Salisu isn’t entirely new to facing the Catalan giants. During his time at Real Valladolid, he faced Barcelona multiple times in La Liga, gaining valuable experience against one of Europe’s elite clubs. More recently, he was part of the Monaco squad that stunned Barcelona 3-0 in the pre-season Gamper Trophy, giving him confidence heading into the Champions League clash.
However, the landscape has shifted since that pre-season encounter. Barcelona are in sensational form, winning every game so far and currently topping La Liga, making them a formidable opponent for Monaco. Despite this, Salisu remains cautiously optimistic. Reflecting on the pre-season victory, he added, “Yeah it wasn’t an easy game but we won, and you know how they play and how dangerous their players are up front, so we just need to go with everything we have like we played last time.”
Salisu’s comments underline a blend of respect for Barcelona’s quality and confidence in Monaco’s ability to compete at the highest level.
The two sides will clash at Stade Louis II as the new-look Champions League kicks off its revamped 2024/25 season, with Salisu eager to leave his mark on European football.
