Monaco unhappy at fixture pile-up

Monaco have hit out at the French league (LFP) for refusing to postpone a rescheduled Ligue 1 match against Montpellier to help their preparations for the Champions League quarter-finals.

The principality club`s home meeting with Montpellier, postponed on February 14 due to heavy rain, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 7.

However, they had hoped to push it back further with the first leg of their quarter-final against Italian champions Juventus set for April 14 in Turin.

In a statement on their website, Monaco said they "find the lack of support from the LFP regrettable" at a time when "French football is happy for its clubs to be doing well in European competition and helping its UEFA coefficient".

Monaco also pointed out that the second leg against Juventus on April 22 will therefore be a sixth match in the space of just 20 days.

Leonardo Jardim`s side are currently fourth in Ligue 1, four points behind Marseille in third and six points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain with a game in hand.