He was initially resistant to the principle of debriefing PSG-Real Madrid (1-0) allowing himself a little chambering without malice: “As soon as there is a PSG – Real, they call me.
Bravo for the originality.
Antoine Kombouaré especially wanted to talk about his Nantes, next opponent of PSG and where he returned exactly a year ago to save the Canaries from relegation.
But Mbappé's stoppage-time goal, like his 29 years earlier, also brought buried emotions to the surface.
How did you feel about Mbappé's goal in added time against Real?
ANTOINE KOMBOUARE.
What Kylian had to experience on Tuesday evening must have been a huge emotion.
The victory was long in coming, difficult but so deserved.
The only difference with me is that it's not a goal that qualifies you.
When he scores, in addition to the same side as me, I immediately said to myself “
Damn, Kylian must
feel the same way as me”
.
We do this job to experience this kind of emotion.
In addition, he was at the center of everything with this possibility of going to Real next year.
Some had even doubted his honesty.
And then he silenced everyone.
I say a huge congratulations to him.
Do we feel fear thinking that you are the next opponents?
A little.
But already, I don't want to forget to congratulate Pochettino.
We fell on him so much and there, he knew how to find the right formula.
PSG played like a great team and made Madrid average.
All efforts have been made together.
And when I hear Kylian say:
now, there is Nantes
, I say to myself:
oh the kid, he will not give us gifts!
(laughs).
In front of this PSG, I can only be worried.
Read alsoMercato: PSG struggles to convince Kylian Mbappé to stay
How to approach such a match then?
But like the chance to finally play a great PSG and which has just released its biggest reference match.
Even under the Tuchel era, I don't remember such a collectively mastered game.
We will not be able to face such a strong Paris.
I saw an interesting stat: PSG scored six goals after the 85th minute, which also demonstrates a very solid mentality and endurance.
And I add the chance to experience Neymar's first tenure in months.
Luck ?
Yes.
It's a pleasure to face opponents of this caliber.
Our victory will be all the more beautiful.
Because obviously, even if there is fear, we will play to win and blow up Beaujoire.
Above all, fear does not prevent ambition.
That's the only thing that lives in me: defeating the great PSG.
Since your arrival just a year ago, Nantes has regained balance and calm.
Is it due to the Kombouaré paw?
If you want to piss me off, talk like that.
I hate that.
It is a sport and a collective work.
I'm not alone.
A club, it starts from the players and the staff to the administrative staff and the cleaning ladies.
I sincerely mean it.
It all starts with the players.
If they want to move their c…, then everything will be fine.
If the bar is straightened, it is because the players are confident.
But did you bring a little discipline?
I am not a cop.
It's so easy to reduce myself to this image.
There is also a lot of psychology in my work.
Pulling the ears a little is a very small part of the job.
If you knew the number of tactical plans that we study before a match.
Moreover, if I speak very little in the media, it is precisely because of this stupid reputation as a soldier that I have been stuck with.
In reality, this label, I fight them… But my only answer is this statistic: in 2023, I will have trained for 20 years without ever missing a single season.
Even if it's only two months like in Toulouse, I've never missed a season.
This proves that I am not a baltringue no?
Have you nevertheless evolved in your management over the past 20 years?
But that's all I did!
Adaptation is the key.
If you don't take into account this new generation, which needs more affectivity or the contribution of databases and statistics, you are overwhelmed.
If you don't evolve, you die!
I never had an agent and the people who came to get me each time take me for what I am.
My only publicity is my work.
What is your greatest pride since you returned to Nantes a year ago?
Keeping the club in Ligue 1. But it was a team job with my assistants.
This club has not gone down to Ligue 2 and that is like an invisible medal.
How long will you stay as a coach?
Certainly not.
I have immense respect for people like Guy Roux or Arsène Wenger who lasted so long.
I love what I do, I love my job.
Establishing strategies to beat the opponent is exciting.
But it is also a profession that can be exhausting.
When it is necessary to say stop, I will know how to do it.