AS Monaco's preparations for their Champions League opener against Club Brugge descended into chaos after an air conditioning malfunction on their aircraft forced players to strip down to their underwear. The squad, led by manager Adi Hutter, was en route to Bruges on Wednesday when the cabin became unbearably hot, turning into a sauna mid-flight.
Players were seen soaked in sweat and using their hands as fans to cool down. Netherlands international Jordan Teze captured the extraordinary scenes on his phone, posting a clip on Snapchat showing the team in their undergarments. Several players were later spotted exiting the aircraft and standing on the tarmac semi-naked.
Ultimately, the flight was cancelled, and the team returned home. Hutter confirmed the decision to postpone the trip, stating: 'Unfortunately, we were unable to leave today. For technical reasons, it was impossible to travel, as everyone's safety was not guaranteed. We will therefore travel to Bruges tomorrow.'
Meanwhile, Paul Pogba, who joined Monaco on a two-year contract this summer, was not involved in the incident as he continues to work on his match fitness. The former Manchester United midfielder has yet to make his debut for the club after being without a team since leaving Juventus in November 2024, following a successful appeal against a four-year doping ban.
Pogba last played competitively in September 2023 for Juventus. Despite the travel setback, Hutter remains optimistic about his team's chances, saying: 'I don't know if this setback will have an impact, as we are professional and immediately changed our schedule.'
