On the eve of a crucial trip to Bayer Leverkusen, Luis Enrique wanted to refocus the debate. Targeted by insistent questions about the hesitant beginnings of Lucas Chevalier, his goalkeeper recruited this summer, the PSG coach did not dodge. On the contrary, he delivered a passionate plea in favor of the young French goalkeeper. With his calm but sharp tone, the Spanish technician wanted to recall a simple truth: “I am very happy with Lucas Chevalier. For me, this is one of the best options, if not the best. »
Luis Enrique accepts and reframes the criticism
Since his arrival from Lille, Chevalier has discovered the reality of PSG: each error is scrutinized, amplified, commented on. His first eleven matches left room for doubts, particularly after a failed performance against OM. But for Luis Enrique, these criticisms are unfair and premature. He recalled, not without irony, that the same observers had “sportingly killed Donnarumma” for four years. A way of denouncing a Parisian media habit: judging too quickly, forgetting too quickly.
By recruiting Lucas Chevalier in the last days of the transfer window, Luis Enrique knew that he was banking on youth and personality. And that's precisely what he rememberst. “He has personality, he shows it every day. When we recruit a player, we think long term”insisted the coach. Behind this speech, a clear philosophy: PSG can only build defensive stability by giving time and confidence to its last rampart.
The Donnarumma example as a mirror
The mention of Gianluigi Donnarumma is not trivial. For Luis Enrique, it serves as a warning to those who judge Chevalier too early. The Spaniard recalls that the Italian, who has now left, was also the target of constant mistrust before regaining his place among the best. Chevalier is only at the beginning of his Parisian journey. “When you are a PSG goalkeeper, you have to learn to live with criticism,” said– he said realistically.
At a press conference, Luis Enrique delivered more than a defense: a signal of authority. He has chosen his guardian, he will protect him. A few hours before a major test in the Champions League, the message is clear: Chevalier is his trusted man, today and for years to come. In an often impatient club, this declaration takes on the value of an act of faith.
