“I knew that we would have a lot of difficulties due to Lens’ pressing, very high pressing, very strong duels where the only free player is the goalkeeper. I have a total obsession with having all players ready to play at all times. Safonov, Tenas, Donnarumma must be ready at all times. If I want this to be the case for the goalkeepers, I also want it to be the case for all the other players. Today, Safonov has generated a certain superiority for us. He was very good and it wasn’t easy for him. I am very happy with his performance”. Saturday evening, after the victory against Lens, Luis Enrique praised Safonov.
It must be said that the Russian goalkeeper performed very well against the Sang-et-Or. More than 50 balls touched in particular, with this role of libero goalkeeper which so convinced Luis Enrique, who also explained having aligned him to thwart the Lensois pressing. But it seems that this strong decision to align the Russian rather than Gianluigi Donnarumma could happen again in the future, and that it is not a simple episodic choice.
A revolution to come?
Indeed, as indicated The Teamthe Italian doorman may be worried. The media thus explains that Luis Enrique has been clearly thinking, for several weeks already, about changing the hierarchy in the cages, and therefore giving the number 1 place to the goalkeeper who arrived this summer from Krasnodar for 20 million euros. The newspaper adds that Luis Enrique was not particularly bothered by the Russian’s waste with the ball, an area where Donnarumma also has difficulty.
And we know that the former coach is not afraid to make small revolutions like this during the season, even if they may seem surprising to the public. In the middle of the week, against Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League, we should know a little more, and a new start for Safonov, who had only played 3 matches so far due to injuries to Donnarumma, would seal this upheaval in the hierarchy at the goalkeeper position…
