Lens boss Antoine Kombouaré has spoken out about former club Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the Week 10 clash between the two sides at the Stade de France on Friday night.
Replaced by Carlo Ancelotti in December 2011 - just as he had guided the capital club to top spot at the winter break - Antoine Kombouaré made his Ligue 1 return at the head of Lens this summer, and as the clash between the two clubs looms on Friday evening, the Lens boss gave his thoughts on his former club.
Reference point
"Paris Saint-Germain need to get a number of their first-choice players back in order to rediscover their confidence and get their league campaign under way," said Kombouaré of the club who have won back-to-back Ligue 1 titles since his departure. "Things will fall into place soon. They don't have a reference point for the season yet. They played a huge game against Barcelona, but that was in the Champions League. They need to do the same thing in the league; play a match in which they unleash their potential. If possible, that should be the match after they play against us…"
Friday's clash at the Stade de France - to be played at Les Bleus' home in order to accommodate the huge anticipated crowd as the champions play 'away' to one of France's best-supported clubs - will likely not feature the charismatic presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, still nursing a heel injury, and Kombouaré is well aware that key injuries and financial fair-play penalties have hindered the capital club this campaign.
Key injuries
"Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi are all players who help get the side running on all cylinders," Kombouaré said. "Financial fair play has also been a handicap for them; they otherwise could have brought in more reinforcements in the summer and make their squad more competitive. The more competition you have, the better a player gets."
As for his opposite number Laurent Blanc, Kombouaré is certain that the PSG boss will overcome his difficult start to the season.
Best wishes
"He knows the situation, he knows the club he signed for, and he knows how the club's directors work," the former PSG player declared. "He had a great season last time around, and even though things are a bit complicated in the league now, I hope things turn around quickly. It's my club and I'll never forget my time there. As for Laurent, I have confidence in his capacities and I hope things work out well for him."
