MONACO (REUTERS) - If Monaco are to be successful, they need to give the ball more often to striker Radamel Falcao, coach Claudio Ranieri said yesterday.

His eight league goals have helped the wealthy club challenge champions and Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain. They trail PSG on goal difference with both sides unbeaten on 25 points from 11 games.

However, the Colombian, who joined from Atletico Madrid in the close season, has on occasion struggled to link up with team-mates on the pitch.

He has had 29 attempts on goal compared to 50 for PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"The team has to provide more support to Radamel Falcao by giving him more balls," Ranieri said ahead of tomorrow's trip to third-placed Lille.

"It's a necessity if we want to be in better positions in the last 20 metres and more effective," the Italian added. "We know that the last pass is the more difficult to do... but if he's set up as he should be, we know that he can score and turn situations round."