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Folarin Balogun Monaco 2023Getty Images
Soham Mukherjee

A problem for the USMNT? Folarin Balogun stripped of Monaco penalty duties after fourth spot-kick miss of the season

USMNT's Folarin Balogun has been removed from penalty duties at Monaco after he missed his fourth spot-kick of the season.

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  • Adi Hutter stripped Balogun of penalty duties
  • His spot-kick misses have been costly for the team
  • The recent miss against Lens was the final straw

  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Balogun, who joined Monaco from Arsenal in the summer, has endured a challenging spell with penalties, missing crucial opportunities that have impacted the team's results. His two misses against OGC Nice earlier this season led to a costly 1-0 defeat for Monaco, while another miss in a penalty shootout against Rouen resulted in the team's elimination from the Coupe de France.

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  • Folarin Balogun Monaco 2023-24Getty

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Despite his latest miss against Lens, which fortunately did not affect the outcome as Monaco secured a 3-2 victory, Balogun's repeated failures prompted manager Adi Hutter to take decisive action. He revealed that Balogun will no longer be tasked with penalty-taking responsibilities and Wassim Ben Yedder will replace him.

  • WHAT HUTTER SAID

    Speaking to reporters, Hutter said: "He (Balogun) is no longer our penalty taker. The No.1 now is Wissam Ben Yedder. When he isn’t on the pitch, the decision is in my hands."

  • HUTTER IMPRESSED WITH BALOGUN'S ON-FIELD FORM

    Despite his setbacks from the penalty spot, Hütter acknowledged Balogun's determination to excel and contribute positively to Monaco's success - especially after he found the net against Lens.

    "I get the feeling that he wants to prove to everyone that he is a top-level forward. He is on the right path. By bringing this impact, as he did against Lens, he is helping us a lot,” he said.

    "The way I see it is that he is on form, but playing against Paris Saint-Germain, anything can happen. He could score, he could miss chances, but that’s football. We have to differentiate his performance and the penalty situation. Okay, missing penalties is too much, but when I see his performance, how he worked for the team in this match, you see why we signed him this summer.”

  • Folarin Balogun Monaco 2023-24Getty

    WHAT NEXT?

    As Monaco try to navigate through a period of fluctuating form, with just two wins in the last five Ligue 1 games, Hutter's strategic decisions aim to optimize the team's performance and restore stability amidst competitive challenges. They will be back in action against Paris Saint-Germain on Friday in a French top flight fixture.