Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim hails his players after 10 months in charge

Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim says he is proud of his players achievements as they look to reach the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday night.

The Principality club host Juventus at the Stade Louis II looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the quarter-final first leg in Turin.

Jardim, who replaced Claudio Ranieri last June, has had very little funds to work with during his 10 months at the helm.

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Russian billionaire owner Dmitry Rybolovlev has tightened the purse strings in recent seasons and, with most of Monaco's expensive signings subsequently moving on, Jardim has been forced to nurture young talent after finding his options in the transfer market somewhat restricted.

Monaco's new-found financial prudence is beginning to yield results, however, with Les Rouges et Blancs third in Ligue 1 and still in with a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals of European football's premier club competition for the first time in 11 years and Jardim is proud of what he had achieved at the helm.

"We went from the worst qualified team in the fourth pot, to winning the group, to knocking out a European giant in Arsenal (in the last 16)," he told BeIN Sports' The Ligue 1 Show.

"Right now, you could say that Monaco's coach is very proud of his players. We've shown that we don't need to make big investments to go far in this competition.

"The club changed its strategy and the project (in the summer). They have stayed ambitious but the onus was placed more on the development of young players."

Right now, you could say that Monaco's coach is very proud of his players. We've shown that we don't need to make big investments to go far in this competition.

Jardim's young guns will have to be on top form if they are to advance to the semi-finals past a Juventus side 15 points clear at the top of the Serie A standings and well poised after Arturo Vidal's spot-kick winner in Turin last Tuesday.

Watch Monaco take on Juventus for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, live on Sky Sports 5 at 7.40, on Wednesday 22 April.