Luis Enrique Defends Zabarnyi Amidst PSG's Early Season Struggles
Luis Enrique did not hesitate. The first mention of Illia Zabarnyi’s name in Saturday’s press conference and the Paris Saint-Germain coach moved straight into defence mode.
The Ukrainian centre-back has become an easy target in recent weeks, a 60‑million‑euro signing from the summer of 2025 who still has not kicked a ball in Ligue 1 this season. But for Enrique, this is simply life at PSG.
“Criticism? This is a natural thing,” he said, as reported by RMC, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brest. “When you are at a club like Paris Saint-Germain, there will always be criticism.”
PSG had just demolished Slovan Bratislava 6-1 in the Champions League, a rare bright night in a stuttering start to the campaign. Zabarnyi started that game, only his second in all competitions this season. Even a five‑goal win, Enrique pointed out, does not silence the noise.
“Even if you win 6-1, you will find criticism of the players. It is very positive that there is this noise, because it means we are at a big club.”
This is how it works at a big club
Enrique did not limit his defence to Zabarnyi. He widened the lens and reminded everyone that the Parc des Princes has long been an unforgiving arena, even for players who later flourished.
“I remember the criticism that Barcola, Dembélé, Doué and, of course, Luis Enrique faced,” he said, nodding to his own spell under fire.
Then he underlined the point.
“This is natural. I think it simply works this way. We have to appreciate the fact that we are one of the best clubs in the world. I am very happy with my squad.”
Zabarnyi’s situation captures the tension perfectly. Last season, his first in Paris, he made 37 appearances across all competitions. Respectable numbers for a 20‑year‑old defender adapting to a new league and a new environment. Yet he never truly displaced the established pairing at the heart of the back line.
Marquinhos and Willian Pacho kept their places, and Zabarnyi’s role drifted between rotation option and understudy. Now, in year two, the scrutiny has sharpened while his league minutes have vanished.
Tough start, sharper questions
The wider context does him no favours. PSG have stumbled out of the blocks in Ligue 1, collecting just two points from their first three matches. For a club that measures itself in titles and deep European runs, that kind of start brings pressure from every angle.
They were beaten by Lens in the Champions Cup, a match Zabarnyi started. After that, he lost his spot. From the bench, he watched Monaco beat PSG 2-1, then saw Lille and Rennes both take 2-2 draws off Enrique’s side.
The numbers are stark: Zabarnyi has started in Europe, helped oversee a 6-1 win, yet is still waiting for his first Ligue 1 minute of the season.
For some, that gap between price tag and playing time is an easy line of attack. For Enrique, it is part of a longer game – and part of the relentless cycle that surrounds any major signing at PSG.
The coach insists he is “very happy” with his squad. The league table, and the treatment of players like Zabarnyi, will show soon enough whether the club is just going through an early wobble or something far more serious.
