‘I don’t want to be here’ – Nantes head coach Antoine Kombouaré storms out of press conference | OneFootball

Nantes head coach Antoine Kombouaré faced the press this Thursday for his usual pre-game press conference as Les Canaris face Lille OSC on Saturday evening at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. However, the press conference was cut short with Kombouaré launching a rather extraordinary rant to the media attending his presser. The former PSG manager berated the journalists for having reported he would be dismissed with Nantes sitting 14th in the Ligue 1 standings.

Get French Football News reported that Kombouaré would have been sacked had Nantes not won a point against PSG on November 30. Kombouaré’s status seemed safe following his team’s 1-0 home win against bitter Brittany rivals Rennes. But Les Canaris‘ 4-1 defeat against Brest all but weakened his post with the club’s owners prospecting for a replacement. Contact took place with free agents Sergio Conceição and Habib Beye.

The Portuguese manager eventually replaced his fellow countryman Paulo Fonseca at Milan and the former Senegal international failed to form a backroom staff. Nantes came to terms with the situation, stuck with Kombouaré and injected fresh faces in his staff. Former Valenciennes head coach Ahmed Kantari and Olivier Blondel – Lyon reserves’ goalkeeping coach – all joined Nantes.

Speaking to the press, Kombouaré said he was extremely bothered that all journalists covering the Loire-Atlantique club were unanimous on the fact that he would no longer coach Nantes as of today. “I expected written apologies from you because you guys got it completely wrong. Only one of you apologized. You need to question yourselves“, Kombouaré said. “If I stay here, I’ll be unpleasant and mean because I don’t want to be here. You won’t agree but I don’t care. I’m letting you work here but I’m out of here. Happy New Year everyone!“

GFFN | Bastien Cheval