Paris Saint-Germain squad manager Luis Enrique has left defender Illia Zabarnyi and midfielder Senny Mayulu out of the team for tonight’s Ligue 1 match against Stade Brestois 29.
The French champions travel to the Stade Francis-Le Blé on Sunday, September 13, 2026, for their Matchday 4 fixture. However, neither the Ukrainian centre-back nor the teenage midfielder made the traveling list, despite both featuring in the club's comprehensive 6–1 victory over ŠK Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Champions League just three days prior.
According to reports from sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Illia Zabarnyi PSG omission and the decision to have Senny Mayulu left out are not due to sudden injury concerns or disciplinary actions. Instead, they stem directly from the strict Luis Enrique squad selection and rotation policy that the head coach outlined to the players at the beginning of the 2026–27 season.
Luis Enrique's Squad Management Policy
At the start of the campaign, Luis Enrique informed the Paris Saint-Germain squad that the high number of available, first-team players would necessitate tough weekly decisions. With significant depth across all positions, multiple fully fit senior players will routinely be left out of matchday selections entirely to manage workloads and maintain squad harmony.
The omission of Illia Zabarnyi comes as a surprise to some sections of the fanbase, given the significant investment made to secure his services. The 24-year-old Ukrainian international signed a long-term contract with the Parisian club following a €63 million move from Premier League side Bournemouth. Illia Zabarnyi had established himself as a reliable asset in the central defense alongside Willian Pacho. Despite starting and playing the full 90 minutes in mid-week continental action, he falls victim to the manager's rotational strategy for the domestic trip to Brest.
Similarly, academy graduate Senny Mayulu will watch tonight's match from the sidelines. The 20-year-old versatile midfielder, who recently committed his long-term future to the club, has been a regular feature in the first-team rotation. Senny Mayulu came off the bench as a 63rd-minute substitute for Achraf Hakimi during Wednesday's Champions League triumph. He remains highly regarded by the coaching staff for his technical abilities and intelligence, but sits out tonight due to numerical selection constraints.
Looking Ahead to the Brest Fixture
The tactical choices highlight the luxury of options available to the Spanish manager as Paris Saint-Germain look to maintain their strong early-season form in domestic competitions. With a heavily congested calendar featuring both Ligue 1 and expanded European responsibilities, rotation is expected to remain a permanent fixture of Luis Enrique’s leadership style this year.
It remains unclear who will fill the vacuum in the central defensive unit tonight for the Brest vs PSG lineup, though veteran captain Marquinhos and Lucas Beraldo are among those expected to be heavily utilized. Following the conclusion of tonight's game against Brest, the coaching staff will re-evaluate the roster ahead of their upcoming league responsibilities.
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