Banide eager for Monaco bow

Twenty-four hours after replacing Laszlo Bölöni as coach of AS Monaco FC, Laurent Banide intends to "return to our attacking roots" tonight as the club from the principality travel to Stade de Reims Champagne in the last 16 of the French League Cup.

Seventh defeat
Bölöni was relieved of his duties as head coach in the wake of Saturday's 3-1 home Ligue 1 defeat by Toulouse FC, the club's seventh reverse in ten league matches under the Romanian. His replacement became the youngest coach in the league - at 38 - and will get his first taste of action with a top-flight club away to a Reims side who lie seventh in the second division.

Relegation threat
With Monaco a lowly 19th in the top flight, Banide's main priority is not to emulate the team's success in the 2003 League Cup but to avoid relegation. Nevertheless, the cup tie presents the new coach with an opportunity to make his mark early and signifies the quickest route back into European football for Monaco – who missed out on continental competition this season for the first time in four years – should they lift the trophy at the Stade de France on 31 March. "I'll ask the players to show me what they can do," Banide said simply.

Crucial opening
With a visit to the only side below Monaco in Ligue 1, FC Nantes Atlantique, to come on Saturday, the new coach – the son of Gérard Banide, who guided Monaco to the French Cup in 1979/80 and the league title two years later – has a clear vision of what is required having watched the recent travails at close quarters as Bölöni's assistant. He intends to "return to the roots of this side who have always tended towards an attractive style of play with inspiration and generosity". He added: "We'll try first to please ourselves and our fans."

Summer spending
Monaco were one of France's most active clubs in the transfer market last summer, among their signings Czech striker Jan Koller, who has scored four times for his country so far this season but just once for his new club. South American pair Leandro Cufré and Gonzalo Vargas and Croatian international Jerko Leko also joined but have been unable to arrest a slide that has continued unabated since defeat by FC Porto in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final.

Four coaches
Banide is Monaco's fourth coach since that loss, although the fact that two – Didier Deschamps and Francesco Guidolin – have gone on to enjoy some success in Italy suggests Monaco's problems may be more to do with structure than personnel. "I keep faith in our team," said club president Michel Pastor, who took charge after the Porto defeat. "I'm sure that Laurent, who has been at the club for 13 years, has the skills to win. It's just what we need."

Holders in action
In Tuesday's other ties, LOSC Lille Métropole take on Stade Rennais FC while holders AS Nancy Lorraine and Le Mans UC 72 meet Toulouse and RC Lens respectively. On Wednesday, there are three more League Cup ties involving top-flight teams as champions Olympique Lyonnais welcome Paris Saint-Germain FC to the Stade Gerland, AJ Auxerre meet FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Olympique de Marseille, beaten 4-1 at home by Lyon on Sunday, visit AS Saint-Etienne.