The former international player (3 caps) had distinguished himself by his versatility by playing both as a side and a defensive midfielder.
Laurent Fournier (55) has won everything in six seasons with PSG.
He is also one of the five Parisian players to have become a PSG coach even if the adventure ended in a fishtail.
What did PSG look like when you arrived in 1991?
LAURENT FOURNIER.
A club which was only beginning to structure itself despite the 1986 title. The arrival of Canal + at the head of PSG brought more professionalism with players who had the ambition to achieve something.
It also made it possible to compete with Marseille.
Were you heckled when you arrived at PSG from OM?
Not at all !
At the time, the national rivalry was mainly between Marseille and Bordeaux.
Then she changed as the capital club was starting to get big.
What is your best memory ?
The victory in the European Cup in 1996!
It is the realization of everything we have done since the beginning.
The name of our opponent in the final was certainly not very loud
(Editor's note: the Austrians from Rapid Vienna)
but during our European campaign we had eliminated major teams like Parma and La Coruña.
This European trophy marked the spirits!
Me, I had the experience of the final lost in Bari with OM in 1991
(Editor's note: defeat on penalties in the final of the European Cup of Champions Clubs against Red Star Belgrade)
.
I said to myself: "This one has to be won!"
"
What is your worst memory?
There are two.
The Supercup against Juventus, we had taken dear on this double confrontation (1-6 at the Park and 1-3 in Italy) but, we, we had no creatine… Then, the title of champion of France lost in 1996 We had badly managed the winter break by staying in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines where we were doing sprints in a room ... Ngotty is injured, others have problems ... When you are in the lead with ten points ahead of the truce on your dolphin and that in the end you do not end up champion, it hurts a lot.
What was the exact role of Yannick Noah during the Cup final?
He relaxed everyone by making the event less dramatic.
After the loss of the title in 1996, Yannick allowed us to have less pressure and he brought a serenity that was not present in the group at the time.
He erased all the uncertainties we could have about this final.
We got back together in a short time and we were able to create solidarity.
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How strong was this team?
The talent, complementarity and solidarity of the group.
Did it hurt to hear Zlatan Ibrahimovic say that “before in Paris, there was nothing”?
Not at all!
Maybe in the club we did not explain to him what was there before.
I met other players like Thomas Meunier and he knew what we had done.
When you love football, you have to know what happened before.
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Who is the player who marked you the most?
David Ginola.
When he was in good shape he did amazing things.
In the field, he could be found easily even if he did not defend too much.
He was very strong technically and he was a physical monster.
If you had it on your back, it was complicated.
I experienced it in training (smile).
In 1997, the PSG lost on the green carpet (3-0) to Steaua Bucharest in the preliminary round of the Champions League because you had played this meeting while you were suspended.
How did you experience this period?
Six people had been summoned to the Camp des Loges.
Claude Le Roy (general manager) and Jean-Michel Moutier (sporting director) taught me that indeed, I had to be suspended.
PSG forgot to consult a fax from UEFA announcing my suspension in the first leg (initially lost 3-2).
I was then told to go home and not to answer the phone.
It is difficult to find yourself in such a situation.
You say to yourself: "I should have thought about it before the game".
After that it does not look professional compared to the club but it at least allowed PSG to make one of its best European matches.
PSG has indeed managed to qualify you by winning 5-0 at the Parc des Princes ...
We were revenge.
With a team made up of Leonardo, Raï, Simone, Gava and Maurice, we knew that if we didn't take a goal and score quickly in the first 15-20 minutes, we would explode them.
The atmosphere was exceptional.
You feel everyone behind you.
Nothing can happen to you.
In 2005, Laurent Fournier remained ten months at the post of trainer, appointed by Francis Graille, thanked by Pierre Blayau.
/ LP
Like Luis Fernandez, Ricardo, Antoine Koumbouaré and Paul Le Guen, you were first a player and then coach of PSG for a year in 2005. Do you have any regrets?
No, I did what I had to do.
Afterwards, when you don't get along with your president (Pierre Blayau), you can't do anything about it… When I took on PSG after the dismissal of Vahid Halilhodzic, he was in 15th place.
We had to manage the players to be able to maintain ourselves.
The following season we were 6th before my ouster and the team finished 9th…
Which player would you like to coach?
A player who wins matches, Kylian Mbappé!
When you are a coach, you want the best even if sometimes they are difficult to manage.
When they make you win you don't have to complain.
His progress is enormous.
He scores incredible goals.
He exudes an ease that others do not have.
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What do you think of the evolution of PSG?
In 1991, the Loges camp did not have a sauna, rotten showers… Today, when you see the training center that the leaders are preparing in Poissy, you tell yourself that this club must come even closer in the coming years of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
It took 30 years.
This new center will allow them to take a step forward perhaps another stage later which will bring many more people.
PSG will become one of the big clubs in the world.