Antoine Kombouaré speaks about his return to Valenciennes, on Saturday at 19:00, as well as the serious knee injury suffered this week by VA ‘keeper Nicolas Penneteau.

Antoine, Saturday’s match must be a special one for you...
“I only left Valenciennes two and a half months ago! I spent four fantastic years in a friendly and family club. But the priority is to go there and win, that’s all that counts. After the match, the emotion will certainly take over and I’ll be happy to see those I used to work with. The four years I spent there, I changed, grew and progressed. If I’m at PSG today, it’s because I passed by Valenciennes and my assistants and I did a good job. I know what their players are capable of. They will want to produce a big match so we have to be ready. It’s going to take a good PSG side to get the win at the Nungesser. I’ve got a very experienced squad and I know they’ll be able to find answers to the problems they’ll face in this match.”

Valenciennes have lost their first two matches, would you prefer to be playing them in different circumstances?
“Yes, but you have to get on with the calendar. Even if I love PSG, I had to try and beat them when I played against them. Now I’ve changed camp and I’ve only got one thing on my mind: the win. I’ll follow their results afterwards, but I want be giving them presents or doing them any favours on Saturday. They won’t be doing me any favours either. They only have one desire: prove that they can beat Paris Saint-Germain.”

What could provoke you into to changing your starting XI?
“There are a lot of factors to take into consideration. I want to wait a little longer to see just how VA will line up. There’s no hierarchy amongst my players, not in defence, midfield or attack. No-one is untouchable and I can change the team after a win, or keep the same players after a loss. It also depends on what I see in training. I need the whole squad, not just a starting XI.”

How did you feel when you heard about the injury to Nicolas Penneteau, your former player at Valenciennes?
“I feel terrible for him. It’s come right at the start of the season and is a serious injury that will keep him sidelined for a long time. He needs to be strong, tough, and I hope he’s back as soon as possible. Over the long term, it will probably have a bearing on the squad, but certainly not this weekend or the following few games. In terms of results, it might get a little complicated for Valenciennes, but we’ll see how they get on without him.”

Is Guillaume Hoarau a possible starter this weekend?
“If he’s in the squad, it means he’s a possible starter. With time and training, he’s feeling strong and full of confidence.”