Grégory Paisley (47 years old) analyzes for Le Parisien the situation of Paris Saint-Germain’s back line in a mixed start to the season. He points to the integration of new players, the team’s uneven form, and the loss of physical cohesion as factors contributing to the club’s defensive fragility.
Paisley: “Yes, the defense is less effective.”
“Yes, the defense is less effective. […] There are new players to integrate, and there are also uneven fitness levels. The defense, like the entire team, needs to regain physical cohesion. The back four were brilliant last season because the midfield was extraordinary. (…)
We can’t be entirely satisfied with their performance. Chevalier is a quality goalkeeper, but his difficult passing shouldn’t be allowed to continue and affect his defenders.”
Paisley: “He needs time.” “
As for Zabarnyi, he suffers from the comparison with Pacho, who adapted quickly to a team that was gaining momentum. This season, the team is missing its key players, and Zabarnyi also has to familiarize himself with a new system in which he must accept one-on-one situations with space behind him. He has to learn to defend differently than in the Premier League. He needs time.”
Paisley describes a defensive unit in transition. Last year, the back line benefited from a dominant midfield that absorbed much of the pressure. This season, the balance is no longer the same.
Lucas Chevalier (24), despite being considered a reliable goalkeeper, is going through a less convincing period, which could affect the confidence of his defenders. In the center, Ilya Zabarnyi (23) has to adapt to a less stable team and to demands different from those he experienced in the Premier League.
The pundit also points out that William Pacho (23 years old) adapted very quickly in a much more favorable environment, making the comparison misleading. For Paisley, the problem goes beyond individual players: the entire defensive structure needs to regain its rhythm, cohesion, and coordination to become effective again.
