Monaco have 13 points from 5 matches and sit first in Ligue 1, with a two-point lead over Lyon and Paris FC. It is their best start in the league since 1991/92. That has not stopped Filipe Luís from pulling the conversation back to earth.

Filipe Luís on the title talk

Speaking to A Bola in Portuguese, Filipe Luís said: "We are not thinking about that. It is not realistic. We know the reality of the club. I am ambitious, very, very ambitious... but we have to go game by game."

He added: "We cannot compare ourselves with them. Paris Saint Germain won the last two Champions Leagues. They are not only the best team in France in the last two seasons, but the best in the world. We know the reality, it will be a very long season. A lot can happen [they also play in the Conference]. In the end, we will see the true level of our team and we hope to be as high as possible in the table."

That is a fair stance for a club that is still only five league games into the season. Monaco have the points and the table position to fuel outside noise, but Filipe Luís is treating the opening as a platform rather than proof.

The football behind the start

The results fit his message. Monaco won four of their first four league matches and then drew to reach 13 points from 5 games. Last season they conceded 54 goals and finished 7th in Ligue 1, so the early change is not just about rhythm, it is about order.

Filipe Luís has described himself as a coach who bets on an offensive style and aggressive pressing, and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky said, "We had a chaotic defense. We worked a lot on that and on the way the team competes. I liked more what I saw. I feel more represented."

Monaco have conceded just 3 goals in 5 league matches this season. Aleksandr Golovin also leads Ligue 1 in high-intensity pressures, which fits the broader shift in how this side are playing. The pressing has given them an edge, but the coach is right not to treat a strong first month as a finished story.

The domestic lead is real, the tactical change looks real, and the expectation management is just as important. Monaco go into the rest of the autumn still first, still two points clear, and still being told not to confuse a fast start with a destination.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →