Kolo Muani ‘took a while’ to recover from World Cup Final miss but had PSG ‘chances’

Randal Kolo Muani of France celebrates scoring the 1-0 during the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-finals soccer match between Spain and France in Munich, Germany, 09 July 2024. EPA-EFE/RONALD WITTEK

Juventus forward Randal Kolo Muani admits he ‘took a while’ to recover from a famous 2022 World Cup Final miss against Argentina but argues Luis Enrique gave him enough chances at PSG.

The France international joined Juventus in January on a dry loan deal from the Ligue 1 giants.

He’s had a stunning impact in Turin, scoring five goals in six Serie A games and winning the Serie A Player of the Month for February.

Juventus are reportedly willing to keep him at the Allianz Stadium beyond the summer, and Kolo Muani would be happy to stay.

During his latest interview with La Repubblica, Kolo Muani spoke about his career before his move to Juventus, starting with a painful mistake in the 2022 World Cup Final, which his France side lost on penalties to Argentina.

“He [Dibu Martinez] was the goalkeeper, I was the striker. He won. It all happened so fast and was a bit crazy,” said Kolo Muani.

Kolo Muani ‘took a while’ to recover from World Cup Final miss but had PSG ‘chances’

“I know that if I had scored, I would have made history. I’ve imagined a thousand times how things could have gone differently, and it took me a while to recover, but I did. I have no regrets, that’s football.”

French media suggested Kolo Muani was not on good terms with PSG coach Luis Enrique, but the 26-year-old denied it.

“No, it’s very, very good. He’s truly an excellent coach, he gave me an incredible amount of advice. Having a manager like him was a blessing,” he said.

“I was the one on the pitch, not him. He gave me opportunities.”

Kolo Muani failed to justify his €95m price tag in Paris, scoring just 11 goals in 54 appearances since 2023.

“A Frenchman at PSG, especially one who cost €90m, is under immense pressure, not everyone can handle it,” he continued.

“I couldn’t. I had opportunities, and I didn’t take them. It hurts, but I’ll say it again: that’s football, I have no regrets.”

The Juventus striker went on to explain how his approach to the game has changed over the last few years.

“My passion became my job, and I must approach it seriously and professionally because the stakes are high,” he said.

“But I’ve kept a part of my instinct alive, if you don’t enjoy yourself, and in Paris, I barely did, you’ll never truly flourish. And on the pitch, there are moments when instinct is needed to win a match.”

Milan boss Sergio Conceiçao, his former coach at Nantes, gave him previous advice.

“He told me things that stuck with me,” Kolo Muani revealed.

“He said I was too nonchalant and that I needed to work harder because he saw great potential in me.

“I was naïve,” he admitted.

“I did the first thing that came to mind on the pitch because football was just fun to me.

“Football was, above all, a pleasure. Then circumstances turned it into something more than just fun.”