PSG’s Antoine Kombouare: Gourcuff Needs ‘A Smack In The Mouth’ For Claude Makelele Slur

After Lorient head coach Christian Gourcuff aimed a cutting attack on Claude Makelele after Paris Saint-Germain’s game in Brittany on Saturday, Antoine Kombouare, head coach of les Parisiens, has reacted angrily.

Gourcuff claimed in the moments after the 1-1 draw that Makelele was treated favourably by referees. He enhanced his initial view on Monday, speaking to L’Equipe, to whom he said that the veteran holding midfielder enjoyed “impunity” and would be as well controlling the match himself.

Kombouare has simply exploded at these remarks. “You must respect the man and his career,” he told radio station RMC, according to the AFP news agency.

“Someone needs to stub Christian Gourcuff's cigar out. I'm very annoyed. You can say what you like about the player but it's forbidden to attack the man. Christian Gourcuff should talk about football and stop thinking he's someone else.

“Excuse me for these words, but in my opinion a guy like this deserves a smack in the mouth.

“I do not accept him attacking the integrity of a player, my player. When he says that he's past it and has no place on a football pitch, I say 'stop'. He is disrespectful, has gone too far and will have to answer to me.”

Gourcuff’s verbal assault on Makelele commenced after the former France international thumped into a challenge with Lorient left-winger Sigamary Diarra after just 34 minutes of play. The coach felt the anchoring player should have been dismissed, and his sense of frustration was only increased in the second half when a handful more fouls by PSG’s captain were not punished by a second yellow card.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com