Michel Der Zakarian, 62, currently without a club after leaving Caen in June 2025, praised the depth of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad in an interview with Le Parisien. The former Montpellier coach believes that PSG’s roster boasts superior athletic levels, highlighting the decisive contributions of Fabian Ruiz (28) and the substitutes in the match against Nantes.
Der Zakarian: “It’s a team with players who have high athletic levels, who are strong”
Should we be concerned about their physical condition?
“I don’t think so. I think it’s a team with players who have high athletic levels, who are strong. They will only play one match per week moving forward, even if they face Nantes in four days.
There are other players who will get minutes too, because in midfield, Fabian Ruiz came on tonight and made a difference. All the substitutes brought energy to the team today—technique, speed, impact. It was much better than the players who started.”
In PSG’s 2025-2026 version, there are no longer any “small” players. Every squad member is involved in the winning dynamic, whether starting or coming off the bench. Michel Der Zakarian’s comments confirm this: Fabian Ruiz’s entry didn’t just change the rhythm of the match—it illustrated that Paris’ successes are built on the squad’s depth and versatility.
Far from relying on a fixed starting eleven, Luis Enrique can count on diverse profiles capable of contributing technically, physically, or with pace depending on the team’s needs. This conscious rotation maintains a high standard, prevents complacency, and sends a clear message: at PSG, every player matters, and hierarchy is never fixed. It is this mindset that, in the long term, shapes a collective capable of performing on all fronts.
