For his first season at PSG, Lucas Chevalier is experiencing a debut full of events and challenges. The French international won his first two trophies, namely the European Super Cup as a starter, then the Intercontinental Cup in the shadow of Matvey Safonov. The Russian’s good performances seem to have redesigned the hierarchy of goalkeepers at PSG, or at least redistributed the cards in the mind of Luis Enrique.
The Asturian could have started Chevalier in the final against Flamengo on Wednesday (1-1, 2-1 tab), but his choice to give continuity to Safonov, after his successful matches against Rennes or Bilbao, ultimately paid off. The Russian established himself as the great hero of this meeting with 4 attempts repelled during the penalty shootout, to the detriment, obviously, of a certain Knight.
Chevalier perceived the Parisian environment as hostile upon his arrival
Without showing the slightest bitterness, the French goalkeeper went to congratulate his competitor with class after the Parisian victory. But it would be an exaggeration to say that Luis Enrique’s decision to leave him on the bench left him indifferent. Asked by The Teamthose close to Chevalier evoke a certain “disappointment»: “There is disappointment, obviously, but it is a choice by the coach which is not illogical given what Safonov had shown in previous matches. In the end, the script proved him right, we have to accept that. The most important thing is that the club wins. That’s what matters, we understand that well.”we whisper.
However, it should be noted that this is not a first for the ex-Lille player, already pushed to his limits at LOSC. On arrival, it was the experienced Karnezis who was preferred during a Coupe de France match in 2021. He will need personality, but also character to overcome this environment which he perceived as “hostile» since his arrival in Paris. “His arrival was not too approved, people wondered why take Chevalier instead of (Gianluigi) Donnarumma XXL. There’s been a lot going on lately. The media did not spare him. We soaped his board well. But it will help him and make him grow”declares a relative of the goalkeeper. It is in adversity that true champions stand out.
