Former head coach of Kyiv’s Dynamo Yozhef Szabo shared his thoughts on the presence of Ukrainian Ilya Zabarniy at French PSG and Russian Matvey Safonov.
Yozhef Szabo— What do you think Ilya will feel and how will he behave with a Russian in the team?
— I don’t even know. I don’t understand: for two months it was said that Safonov was being sold or would be sold soon, yet this goalkeeper remained at PSG. Honestly, I don’t understand. I can’t even imagine how they will coexist in one club.
Maybe the journalists started writing first that Zabarniy said something. It’s quite possible that he said nothing at all. But, one way or another — neither you nor I would be able to live with Safonov in the same room, hotel room, or anywhere at all. I don’t know how this will go on.
— Meanwhile, PSG recently signed a new goalkeeper, Luc Chevalier from another French club, Lille. Perhaps this is a hint for Safonov to look for a new team?
— We saw Chevalier who played for PSG in the Supercup match against Tottenham. He is nothing special. I don’t know why they brought this goalkeeper. So, for now, it’s unclear how things will turn out.
— Can Zabarniy’s move to a French giant be seen as a step forward in his star career?
— Ilya is a very good guy. He has everything in terms of football — tackling, speed, and other good qualities. He has grown into a high-level player. It’s nice that Zabarniy was welcomed at PSG very beautifully and warmly. This club understands well that he is a high-class footballer. It’s no coincidence that PSG’s head coach Luis Enrique really wanted to take Zabarniy. For two months, they wrote and talked about this until the transfer became a reality. So God willing, everything will go well for him in the Paris club.
Andrei Pisarenko
