Kombouare recounts the historic 5-0 Champions League triumph, sharing raw emotion from the commentary booth and a touching embrace with the club's family.
On May 31, Paris Saint-Germain won its first UEFA Champions League by overpowering Inter Milan (5-0). In the commentary booth for the match, Antoine Kombouare could not contain his emotion at the end of the game.
PSG had dreamed of winning the Champions League for many years. It had come close several times, with the final in 2020 and the semifinals in 2024.
It took until last season to see PSG finally reach the top of Europe after a standout Champions League campaign where it eliminated Liverpool, the league phase leader, Aston Villa, and Arsenal before overpowering Inter Milan in the final (5-0).
Present as a commentator on M6, Antoine Kombouare reflected on his emotion at the end of the match. He played for and coached the capital club.
"I cried at the stadium, and I own up to it," he said. "When I saw those kids running everywhere to hug each other. I was happy for Marquinhos, who had lived through the hell of the remontada. And I was able to go down onto the pitch afterwards."
"I slipped a few words to Luis Enrique and Nasser. We were all Parisians. Nasser whispered to me kindly: Thank you, coach, it's with you, you are part of the family. Simple words, but they warm the heart," said the former PSG coach in an interview with Le Parisien.
"Did I touch the trophy? No, not that. I wanted to stay in the background. I don't dare. It wasn't my victory. It had to be left to the winners," Kombouare added.
"But I felt privileged to be there. I experienced all that from the inside. It was my first as a pundit and a first you never forget. Speaking of firsts, the Marseille fans say: Forever the first. But for us, it's truly: Forever the best. Winning 5-0 in a Champions League final, no one had done that before. No one. And I was there."
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