After weeks of speculation and names being dropped, just before the year ends Antoine Kombouare has resigned and PSG will have a new manager come 2012: none other than Carlo Ancelotti formerly of Chelsea and AC Milan among others. Ever since the take over in spring 2011 by the Qatar Investment Authority and the arrival of Leonardo as sporting director shortly after, there have been rumours about a possible successor to Kombouare.
It is to Kombouare’s honour that he kept his head cool and did not say anything regarding the matter until today when he officially resigned from his post as coach of Paris St. Germain. He thus saved his face, shamed the new owners and Leonardo and on top of that saved them a fortune. Why now one might ask rightfully. Kombouare’s contract was dated until the end of the current season and he could have walked away from the post and everybody’s face would have been saved.
His action however, once more has demasked the face of football as a business that appears to have no time or patience and is in urgent need of results. The Qataris certainly have shot themselves in the foot this way. Ancelotti has surely a different idea of football than Kombouare had at PSG but has the Italian got the players for this at his disposal? It will mean that prices will increase once more as every club willing to sell, want to milk the cash cow that PSG have become.
It remains to be seen whether or not Ancelotti will have the power over the transfer dealings in January and in the summer, should he last that long, or if Leonardo simply will act as the prolonged arm of the owners and dictate the signings and departures. He will inherit a squad that looks solid on paper but has not convinced so far this season despite sitting on top of Ligue 1 until play will resum in January and that is not playing in Europe any longer after a rollercoaster ride in the Europa League. Therefore his main target will be the league title and a possible Cup triumph in May. However, there have already been reports about unrest within the squad and any new signings will add to that, therefore Ancelotti has a big task at his hands in Paris.