Antoine Kombouaré demands intensity as Paris FC target response against Nice | OneFootball

Antoine Kombouaré has wasted no time at Paris FC, demanding greater intensity and a response against Nice on Sunday at 15:00 in the 24th round of Ligue 1, after signing a six-month deal. He has also made clear there will be no favours.

According to L'Équipe, he arrived on Monday, welcomed by president Pierre Ferracci and chief executive Jean-Marc Gallot, then toured the Orly training base. On Tuesday, Antoine Arnault, representing his family, the club’s majority shareholder, introduced him to the squad, after talks last week with sporting director Marco Neppe.

He urged the players to play together and rediscover desire, intensity and enjoyment. He said he is ready and wants to see a higher tempo, with the side winless in six in all competitions and 15th in the table.

His long-time fitness coach, Dufour, also 62, who has worked with him since Al Hilal in 2012, ran a high-tempo session, stressing it must feel intense and that finishing stronger matters. He even teased Alimami Gory that his grandmother would be quicker.

Midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou said the coach wants a return to basics and greater cohesion in and out of possession, with more aggression, and that the players must take responsibility.

Asked about Moses Simon, his former player at Nantes, Kombouaré said the player must respond to a poor run, with no goal or assist since November, and that he will not hand out gifts. The match group assembled on Saturday evening at a hotel near Porte de Saint-Cloud.

Source: L'Équipe