Asked at a press conference about PSG/Bayern Munich, Antoine Kombouaré, 62, the Paris FC coach, initially responded with his usual candor. But behind the feigned annoyance, the former Paris Saint-Germain defender and coach primarily acknowledged the exceptional nature of the European match.
Kombouaré: “Of course, I saw something amazing, but look, today we’re talking about Paris FC.”
“But what do I care about PSG? I just lost a match against Lille last weekend, I’m playing Brest. So, I’m focused on my job. Of course, I saw something amazing, but look, today we’re talking about Paris FC.
It’s fabulous, because I saw an epic match. PSG scored five goals against this year’s great Bayern Munich, that’s quite something. Then they got a bit of a dressing down.” There were four goals, and that’s normal. There are some very talented players on both teams. But there you have it, it’s a match that is, of course, among the biggest in Europe, and in the Champions League.”
Kombouaré wasn’t trying to play the role of the awestruck pundit, given that his daily life is elsewhere, with Paris FC and a match to prepare for against Brest. His initial reaction was therefore as much a reprimand as a joke: he refused to let PSG dominate the press conference concerning his team. But it’s precisely this contrast that makes his comments interesting. Once the message was delivered, the coach didn’t downplay PSG’s performance.
On the contrary, he emphasized the quality of the spectacle, the attacking power of Paris Saint-Germain, and the quality of a Bayern Munich side capable of responding in a completely open match. Beyond the rough-around-the-edges style, Kombouaré thus confirmed the essential point: this PSG/Bayern match certainly had all the hallmarks of a major European encounter.
