Gilli departs as Kombouaré accepts Arnault project in Paris FC’s surprise turn | OneFootball

Paris FC said in a statement on Sunday that Stéphane Gilli had left and Antoine Kombouaré had been appointed until the end of the season, with a one-year option if they stay up. The change comes amid a damaging run.

Results worsened after the 1-0 defeat at Monaco on 1 November, with only 9 points from the last 12 league games. A 2-0 Coupe de France exit at Lorient in the last 16 was poorly received, then came the 0-5 loss to Lens on 14 February.

Gilli’s final match was Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Toulouse. Admired internally, he had faced rising criticism over selections and regular starts for out of form players.

Kombouaré, 62 and dismissed by Nantes in May last year, will visit the Orly training centre on Monday to meet staff. Kevin Trapp’s team-mates are due to meet him on Tuesday after two days off. Assistants Olivier Echouafni and Toru Ota, who worked with him at Nantes, will join him, with Yves Bertucci absent.

Kombouaré, seen as empathetic but protective of the dressing room, will restrict access to it. After knee surgery late last year, he had resisted returning this season despite approaches, including from Nantes, but the Arnault family’s project changed his mind.

He inherits a promoted side hindered by a poor summer window and limited impact from winter recruits. Injuries to right-backs Samir Chergui and Hamari Traoré have left a gap that still needs covering.

Source: L'Équipe