A year ago, he walked on water. A year later, he was overwhelmed by the flood of criticism. Warren Zaire-Emery is definitely living everything in fast motion. His life as a professional footballer and all the hazards that go with it. At only 18 years old, the PSG midfielder has already experienced the sensation of being erected on a pedestal, then that of being suddenly dropped from it. The last week before the international break, which the young Parisian spent with the France team, accentuated the impression of this dizzying lift. To the point of casting doubt on the potential of a player presented as one of the most promising of his generation.
The case of Zaire-Emery above all illustrates the difficulty of putting things into perspective. Especially when we touch on the exceptional. This is what he embodies. He was presented as a generational crack from the time he attended the PSG training center. This already justified high expectations for him, and the demands on him became of the highest standards after his flamboyant start to the season a year ago. “He amazed everyone when he started, it was exceptional the first six months, rsums up Guy Lacombe, former PSG coach. After he was injured, he became human again.”
“Kolo Muani is a foreign body in Luis Enrique’s system”
The turning point was this ankle injury contracted during his first selection, and his first goal, for the France team against Gibraltar, in November 2023 (14-0). Zaire-Emery scored a vital goal for his return to competition as a starter, in a crucial Champions League match against Dortmund (1-1), punctuating a high-flying performance in Germany. But since then, the quality of his output has declined. Less impactful in duels, less impactful in his projections, less decisive in front of goal, he has moved away from the exceptional level of his first four months of last season.
“People don’t pay attention to his age”
The air gap is starting to last for a player who is in high demand, and whose body continues to adapt to the crazy schedule of a club like PSG. This was definitely bound to happen. “He’s the age he is, 18recalls Guy Lacombe. When he had this exceptional level, everyone wondered when he would have this little slack. But this kind of sluggishness happens to all players, even those who are 24-25 years old. He is going to have a difficult time for him. He is in the French team, almost always starting at PSG but he is a little questioned. As some left, we expected a little more from him.”
Zaire-Emery is indeed very exposed. Especially since the departure of Kylian Mbappé. PSG wanted to make its young 18-year-old midfielder the symbol of a new project. His contract was extended with a significant salary increase. Which further raised expectations for him. “We have to assimilate all that,” explains Guy Lacombe. “It was a strong and intelligent gesture on the part of the club. Zaire-Emery, he carries this weight, but I don’t think it weighs him down. It’s more the people’s view of him, they don’t pay attention to his age.”
“With Real, there are often fake injuries during the break”
Age is clearly a factor that must be taken into account. Guy Lacombe is well placed to talk about it. In Sochaux, he had under his command another French football prodigy, Jérémy Ménez, then aged 17, even if the two cases are different. “Psychologically, the coach must be vigilant and support him as best as possibleunderlines the former Parisian coach. But Ménez only had the responsibility for his game, to pierce the defenses. Zaire-Emery is a team responsibility, more collective. Ménez, we had to manage the player’s youth and state of mind, which is totally different from that of Zaire-Emery.”
“He will be even stronger later”
This maturity which has earned so much praise for the young Parisian midfielder should not make us forget the stage of his life. His performances were not up to par in September, a month where he also had to deal with an injury and taking the baccalaureate exams. “He’s a teenager even if he’s mature, avance Guy Lacombe. He’s still an 18 year old. When he’s impressive on the pitch, you forget age. When it is less so too, but it is still largely exceptional. We’re counting on him to level PSG up, it’s quite difficult for a young player and I think he’s doing well. When you know the rigor of Luis Enrique, the figures speak, they are references.”
Deschamps speaks of “(his) decision” not to select Mbappé
Even if his performances are criticized, and despite an injury at the start of the season, Zaire-Emery remains the third most used player at PSG (689 minutes), behind Willian Pacho (747) and Achraf Hakimi (717), in a team that also evolved this summer. “There is no longer Mbappé, that changes something for a player like him who brings the ball forward in a box-to-box midfield roleexplains Guy Lacombe. But you have to be careful about function overflow. He was effective, he scored some important goals, but that is not his real role. He does it from time to time, yes, like all midfielders. But we can’t ask him to make a difference all the time.”
This is another aspect that must be taken into account when judging Zaire-Emery’s performances. A still very young player who must digest a lot of things in the overhyped context of PSG. “Everything takes on a disproportionate magnitude, for good or bad, judge Guy Lacombe knowingly. It is highlighted both by the club and by the media, it is obvious that it is not easy to live with. But he will get through it and he will be even stronger afterwards. It’s a step.” That of a process which called for this air gap for multiple reasons. It will be up to Zaire-Emery to resurface. At 18, he has plenty of time ahead of him for that.
