Oleg Dulub Evaluates Illia Zabarnyi's Performance, Defender for PSG and Ukraine National Team

Oleg Dulub, a well-known figure in Ukrainian football, has recently expressed his observations on the performance of Illia Zabarnyi, who plays as a defender for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the Ukrainian national team. In his evaluation, Dulub noted that Zabarnyi evokes memories of Dmytro Chyhrynskyi when he made his move to Barcelona from Shakhtar Donetsk.

“Zabarnyi is a marker for the national team. If he is not in shape, it affects everyone,” emphasized Dulub. He pointed out that during the match against Sweden, where Ukraine suffered a 1-3 defeat, Zabarnyi made several uncharacteristic mistakes that he had not previously exhibited. “This is pure psychology. In this game against Albania, he was also quite unconvincing – from a player of his caliber, we expect much more. It reminds me of a certain period in Chyhrynskyi's career when he moved to Barcelona. Certain parallels are noticeable,” added the expert.

Dulub also expressed the opinion that Zabarnyi's transfer to PSG may have negatively impacted his game. “Undoubtedly. PSG is not Bournemouth. There are different requirements for ball control, a different technical level of the league. He needs time to adapt,” he remarked in a comment for Ukrainian Football (UF).

Illia Zabarnyi joined PSG in August 2025 and has since played 29 matches for the French club, scoring one goal. However, despite these achievements, Dulub believes that the player has yet to fully adapt to the new playing conditions.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian national team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, losing to Sweden 1-3 in the playoff semifinals. The Swedes, in turn, triumphed over Poland 3-2 in the final, securing their spot in the World Cup. However, in a friendly match, the Ukrainians managed to defeat Albania 1-0, providing some consolation for the fans.

Additionally, it was previously reported that Serhiy Rebrov, the head coach of the Ukrainian national team, expressed his desire to remain in his position and is willing to accept a salary reduction to do so.

Thus, the situation surrounding Zabarnyi and the Ukrainian national team remains tense, with fans hoping for improved results in the future.