Montpellier's Tanguy Coulibaly: “PSG gave me everything”

Tanguy, how are you approaching the end of this difficult season?

The aim is to finish well in these final two games, even though we already know how the season ends. After that, we’ll begin preparing for next year and shift our focus to new objectives. We’ve made a good start under the new coach, Zoumana Camara, who’s already brought some promising ideas. That gives us hope.

Does that mean you’re planning to stay with Montpellier HSC next season in Ligue 2 BKT?
As things stand, yes. The plan is to stay at the club. But as we all know, things can change very quickly in football.

What’s your assessment of this very difficult campaign?

It’s been painful, no doubt about it. Seeing the club go down is tough. It really hit home, especially in the year of Montpellier’s 50th anniversary. All the players feel a sense of guilt towards the president, because he’s always supported and protected us. We simply didn’t deliver the season we were supposed to.

When you arrived a year and a half ago, you spoke about the gratitude you felt toward MHSC and Laurent Nicollin…

That hasn’t changed. I was in a tough place at the time—without a contract for six months—and the club came to me. That period felt like a form of depression, to be honest. Now I really want to fight to help bring Montpellier back up. I do have questions though, because I’ve never played in Ligue 2 before.

How have things gone so far under Camara?

The coach is clear about what he wants. He’s introduced some new ideas and the group has responded really well. It’s all very positive and will be beneficial heading into next season. Tactically, we’re seeing some changes. He wants to play with possession, with a passing game. That’s the foundation. "Papus" was developed at PSG, so that’s the type of football he believes in. We’re not saying we’re going to play like PSG, but we’ll try to be inspired by that philosophy.

You mentioned the hope he brings—how does that coexist with the reality of relegation?

It’s complicated. On one hand, we know we’re going down. On the other, there’s a clear sense of a fresh start with Papus. When a new coach comes in, players always want to prove themselves. Training has been intense. His message is clear and he delivers it differently than what we’ve known before.

You and Camara also share a PSG background—have you spoken about that yet?

Not really, but I’m sure we will soon.

What are your memories of being developed at PSG?

PSG gave me everything. They taught me possession football, technical skills, tactical understanding… Everything was put in place to help us grow. My best memory is my final season under Thiago Motta. He took all of us to another level, especially tactically. He trusted us. Playing in the Youth League was a formative experience—even if we didn’t go far. In the league, though, we dominated. We always had the ball and created so many chances.

You moved on to Stuttgart in Germany, where you played with top forwards like Mario Gomez and Serhou Guirassy, who’s now shining at Dortmund.

Guirassy doesn’t surprise me at all. Having seen him up close at Stuttgart, I’m not shocked by what he’s doing. He’s an extraordinary player. Even in his first season, he helped keep us up and finished strong in the scoring charts—despite not playing every game. He’s simply built on that.

And Mario Gomez?

When I arrived, I was 18 and it was his final season (2019/20). His goal was to help the club earn promotion, and he did it. I was just a kid, but he always talked to me, especially about how to beat defenders. He told me: “When you’re in the final third, go for it.” He really tried to help me succeed. He wasn’t the loudest in the dressing room, but on the pitch he always had time for me. I really appreciated that.

Did you speak to him in German?

Yes. Learning a new language wasn’t difficult for me because I had just finished school. After three months, I didn’t need a translator anymore. Everyone saw how much effort I put into speaking German, and that really helped me settle. It’s something that’s highly valued in Germany. I even took private lessons in my free time. After a year, I was fluent. I also studied English and Spanish because I enjoyed languages.

Many forwards with Ligue 1 McDonald's experience thrive in Germany. How do you explain that?
The Bundesliga is a very open league. Teams play to win. With that mindset, there are always goals. Regardless of where you are in the table, no one parks the bus. Everyone plays attacking football. That naturally benefits forwards.

Have you noticed a difference now that you’re playing in Ligue 1 McDonald's, which is having a record-breaking season for goals scored?

I’ve only been in Ligue 1 for a year and a half, and before that I only really followed PSG’s matches. But looking at the stats, it’s clear the French league is catching up in terms of entertainment value. I’d say teams here still tend to change their approach a bit when they face the bigger sides—often to avoid conceding too many.

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