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“He was very good” : Satisfied with Matvey Safonov on Saturday against Lens, will Luis Enrique create real competition for Gianluigi Donnarumma, no longer really certain of his position against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday (9 p.m.)? The two men were photographed arm in arm after the victory in Marseille on October 27 (3-0), but the smiles could quickly give way to clenched jaws.
The Italian was, since his arrival at the club in July 2021, the almost undisputed holder in this position. He had sometimes shared the Coupe de France and certain minor matches with the experienced but aging Keylor Navas. The arrival this summer of Safonov from Krasnodar had already sowed initial doubt about the club’s intentions. Especially since the Russian, 25 years old like Donnarumma, had said he intended to play.
Luis Enrique has apparently decided to extend the rotation he likes to this very sensitive position, in principle protected from “turnover”. He had already started Safonov three times when the Italian had to withdraw due to an injury during the second half of September.
Kicking game
Saturday evening after the victory (1-0) against Lens, he did not hide when justifying this surprise start. First, he said, he has like on the other positions “the permanent obsession that all players can play“. “I want Tenas, Safonov and Donnarumma to be ready to play at any time, I like that, seeing the players ready“, explained Luis Enrique.
But, and this opens the door to competition, it is the Russian’s more compatible profile with the kicking game – even if he is not Ederson at City or Raya at Arsenal – which motivated Luis Enrique: “I knew, he said, that there was going to be a lot of difficulty due to Lens’ very high pressure, very strong duels where the only free player is the goalkeeper.”
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A lively and skilful goalkeeper was therefore needed to redirect the balls according to the back passes of the Parisian defenders under pressure. Despite twelve missed passes caused by a good Lens team, “the majority of the time we found solutions and it turned into a scoring opportunity“, assured Luis Enrique.
“Safonov made no mistakes, he is a very complete player. In these difficult game situations, we had a very good match. Safonov today was very good, I am very happy with his performance“, insisted the Spanish coach.
I’m used to people picking on Donnarumma
The tribute is particularly meaningful, especially as it comes in a tense context for PSG, four days before a crucial Champions League match against Atlético Madrid. After two poor performances at Arsenal (2-0 defeat) and against PSV Eindhoven (1-1), Paris must win to get back into the race for the top 8 or, more likely, for the places ranked 9 to 24, synonymous with play-off for the round of 16.
Donnarumma, one of the best goalkeepers in the world on his line, is often guilty of inaccuracies and errors during his aerial exits or when he wants to restart with his foot. Arsenal’s two goals would perhaps have been avoided without this vagueness which contaminates the defense.
Luis Enrique then defended him, believing that the giant (1.96 m) was not responsible for the passivity of the defense: “I’m used to people picking on Donnarumma. I have confidence in what I see in matches, during training. Leave Donnarumma alone and take care of me“, he said.
His statements on Saturday thus reflect a change of direction in communication. “Tomorrow morning (Wednesday) after a good cappuccino, I will decide who is the goalkeeper best suited to play“, Luis Enrique mischievously warned on Tuesday. A sign that all possibilities must be considered, defender Willian Pacho confided on Tuesday that he could not choose: “I feel very good with both, very peaceful. They are two great goalkeepers and whoever is lined up tomorrow will do it at their best..”
Whoever wins on Wednesday, the debate could last. Safonov has not been tested much on his line in his four official matches, with two goals conceded against Reims (1-1) and Rennes (3-1). In addition to the preparation match this summer against Sturm Graz, where he was particularly surprised by a beautiful long-range strike from Kiteishvili (2-2).
