Luis Enrique Defends Illia Zabarnyi Amid Criticism

Luis Enrique did not hesitate. The question was about Illia Zabarnyi, the noise around him, the doubts already swirling. The Paris Saint-Germain coach pushed straight back.

At his press conference on Saturday, on the eve of PSG’s trip to Brest, the Spaniard moved quickly to shield his 22-year-old defender, reminding everyone that scrutiny is part of the job description in Paris.

“Criticism? This is a natural thing,” Enrique said, as reported by RMC. “When you are at a club like Paris Saint-Germain, there will always be criticism.”

Zabarnyi is only in his second season at PSG, but the stakes around him are already high. Signed in the summer of 2025 for more than 60 million euros, the Ukrainian arrived with the label of long-term cornerstone for the defence. The reality has been less straightforward.

He has just made his second start of the campaign, in Wednesday’s Champions League demolition of Slovan Bratislava, a 6-1 win that should have eased tension. It did not. Even that performance has been picked apart.

Enrique, though, sees that as the price of the shirt.

“Even if you win 6-1, you will find criticism of the players,” he continued. “It is very positive that there is this noise, because it means we are at a big club.”

Past targets, present message

The coach did not limit his defence to Zabarnyi alone. He used the moment to draw a wider picture of life at PSG, rolling through names who have already ridden this storm.

“I remember the criticism that Barcola, Dembélé, Doué and, of course, Luis Enrique faced,” he said, briefly turning the spotlight on himself.

The message was clear: the cycle repeats, the club endures, and players either grow inside that pressure or are pushed aside by it.

“This is natural. I think it simply works this way,” Enrique added. “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 underlines the tension between long-term planning and short-term demands. Across all competitions last season, he collected 37 appearances, a solid return for a first year in a new league and a new environment. Yet he never truly displaced the established hierarchy.

Marquinhos remains the reference point at the back. Willian Pacho has also stood in his way. Zabarnyi has been more rotation piece than undisputed starter, an expensive asset still trying to force open the door.

Rocky start raises the volume

The broader context explains why the criticism has sharpened. PSG have stumbled out of the blocks in Ligue 1, taking just two points from their opening three matches.

They began by losing to Lens in the Champions Cup, a game Zabarnyi started. He then dropped to the bench for the league fixtures that followed. Monaco beat them 2-1. Lille and Rennes both held them to 2-2 draws. For a club that measures itself in titles and dominance, that sequence bites.

When results dip, the spotlight moves. It has landed on the Ukrainian, among others.

The irony is that, despite his midweek Champions League start, Zabarnyi is still waiting for his first Ligue 1 minutes of the season. He has been trusted on the European stage, but not yet in the domestic grind where PSG have been leaking points.

Enrique’s defence of him is not just about one player. It is about setting the tone in a dressing room under pressure, about reminding Paris that development is rarely linear, even for 60-million-euro defenders.

The next step is obvious. Sooner rather than later, Zabarnyi will have to turn his coach’s words into performances that silence the noise, not just explain it.