Monaco were handed a humiliating defeat on Tuesday that all but ended the club’s Champions League campaign on as Thierry Henry once again failed to secure a maiden win as coach.
Monaco, semi-finalists in 2017, slumped to a 4-0 home loss to Club Brugge, who registered their first win in four Group A matches.
Hans Vanaken scored twice for the Belgian team, Brazilian forward Wesley made it 3-0 and captain Ruud Vormer completed the rout.
Winless in their last 15 matches in all competitions, Monaco will be eliminated if Atletico Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund in the group’s other match.
Henry was hired last month as a replacement for Leonardo Jardim, but has yet to secure a win in five matches, with his team stuck in the relegation zone in the French league.
The former World Cup winner is in his first managerial job after working as an assistant to Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.
With his team depleted with injuries, Henry opted for a 4-3-3 system, with Sofiane Diop and Moussa Sylla on the wings and Radamel Falcao upfront.
The strategy worked well in the early stages as Monaco created a couple of good chances.
But Brugge took the lead against the run of the play after only 12 minutes when Vanaken made the most of a cross from Mats Rits at the near post that Kamil Glik and Youssef Ait Bennasser failed to clear to beat goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.
Monaco coach Thierry Henry is a worried man as his team extended their winless stretch of games to 15. Photo: Claude Paris/AP
Things soon got worse for Monaco as defender Antonio Barreca was penalised for a handball in the box, and Vanaken converted from the spot with a well-taken penalty down the middle for his second goal in the space of six minutes.
Monaco pushed hard to reduce the gap, but left their defence wide open.
Brugge took advantage and made it 3-0 in the 24th minute when Wesley concluded a swift counter-attack with a 20-metre strike into the net.
Club Brugge forward Wesley Moraes shows his elation after scoring against Monaco. Photo: Claude Paris/AP
Vormer slotted home Brugge’s fourth goal with five minutes left with a low shot.
Monaco have now failed to keep a clean sheet during their last 18 Champions League matches.