Zabarnyi doesn't mince his words on last season and his PSG aims | OneFootball

Having arrived last season from Bournemouth, 23-year-old defender Ilya Zabarnyi played a somewhat mixed part in Paris Saint-Germain’s XXL season. Speaking to PSG’s official channel, the Ukrainian international looked back on his season as well as his ambitions for the one ahead.

Zabarnyi: “I feel like everyone helped me.”

Almost exactly a year ago, you joined PSG. What memories do you have of it?

“It was a special day. Sometimes you start a new chapter in your life and there are a lot of positive emotions. The memories come back to me, and it was crazy. There was so much love from the people, from the supporters. It’s difficult to join a new club, but I feel like everyone helped me.

When I was young, I never thought about becoming a professional footballer. The things that are meant to happen, happen. So when you grow up, get playing time, become a professional footballer, and join the biggest club in the world, it’s a huge source of pride. Football is like that: you can win, you can lose, but you just have to stay steady and keep working as hard as you can.”

Zabarnyi: “I still want to improve and do everything I can.”

In which area of your career have you improved the most this year?

“I think it’s in leadership. Last year, I was the captain of my national team, and that forced me to think about the whole team, all my teammates. So this season, I’ve improved a lot in that area. But I still want to improve and do everything I can.”

What is the first image that comes to mind when you think about that back-to-back Champions League title?

“We couldn’t believe it. It’s a huge source of pride. Sometimes you’re on cloud nine when things happen quickly, but you have to keep your feet on the ground. You have to tell yourself, ‘OK, I did my job well’ or ‘I didn’t do enough.’”

Zabarnyi: “We’re starting the season with two very big matches”

How is the return to training going?

“The most important thing is to come back and feel positive. But the atmosphere is incredible, waiting for that date and preparing for it. On our side, we just have to keep moving, stay fit and be ready. The first matches are coming very quickly.”

The first challenge is the Super Cup against Aston Villa. How are you approaching this match?

“We just have to do the same as usual. We can win, we can lose, that’s football. But the way I see it, we’re a big team, we have a strong squad, and obviously we want to win. We’re starting the season with two very big matches, and it’s very good preparation.”

What are PSG’s ambitions this season?

“We want to achieve everything that is possible to achieve. Take the matches one by one. Stay focused and move forward step by step in every match and for every trophy.”

PSG supporters?

“They are simply exceptional. They support you anywhere. When we play away, I see them, they make so much noise, they are so energetic, they give us that energy, they create such an atmosphere for us. My first steps at the Parc des Princes were incredible.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.