Change of hierarchy or simple turnover? Since he has developed the captivating habit of taking everyone on the wrong foot, his players and observers alike, it is clear that Luis Enrique has succeeded again, this Saturday, November 2, on the occasion of the arrival of Lens at the Parc des Princes. In his almost compulsive mania for upsetting his starting lineup each time out, the Parisian coach has this time imported the game of musical chairs into a sector which had until then been spared from the exercise: the cage!
Although Gianluigi Donnarumma, number one in the position since the start of the season, did not suffer from any physical problems, he nevertheless found himself on the bench during this 10th day of Ligue 1, Enrique choosing to entrust “guarding” to the Russian Matvey Safonov. This is certainly not the first time that the Transalpine has not started this season in the Parisian goal. But the three times he saw his “understudy” take over against Girona in the Champions League (1-1), Reims (1-1) and Rennes (3-1) in L1, the Italian, then a victim of a muscular injury, had the excuse of being unfit for service.
This time, he was a priori in full possession of his means since he appeared on the match sheet. So what pushed Luis Enrique to invite Matvey Safonov to return to the game against Lens this Saturday evening? “I knew we would have a lot of difficulties due to the pressure from Lens,” explained the Spanish coach at a press conference. Very high pressure. Very strong duels where the only free player is the goalkeeper. I have a total obsession with the idea that all players can play. Safonov, Tenas and Donnarumma must be ready at all times. »
“If I want this to be the case for goalkeepers, I want it to be the case for everyone else as well,” he continues. It’s my obsession and I work on it every day. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don’t. I like to see players ready. Today, Safonov has generated a certain superiority for us. He was very good, I think. It wasn’t easy for him either but I’m very happy with his performance. »
“Safonov made no mistake”
It’s difficult to read any clues for the future in the Spaniard’s words. When Donnarumma returned from injury on the Arsenal pitch, the transalpine goalkeeper, although guilty of the two goals conceded, was cleared by his coach. This Saturday, Matvey Safonov, for his third start in Ligue 1, signed his first clean sheet. Only the third this season for the capital club in the championship. Despite the twelve lost balls – as many as a field player like Ousmane Dembélé – Luis Enrique seems to have been convinced by his performance.
“The numbers don’t matter,” assured the Spanish coach. Superiority is generated when an opponent puts pressure in the opponent’s half. The opponent must attack the goalkeeper. Every time the Lens player goes at our goalkeeper, it leaves a free player on the pitch. »And Enrique continued: “The majority of the time, we found solutions and each time, it turned into a scoring opportunity. Safonov made no mistakes. Whether the attacker receives the ball or not, it doesn’t really matter. He is very complete and in this very difficult playing situation, we had a very good match. »
Four days before welcoming Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League, no one knows, of course, if in the coach’s mind, the hierarchy of goalkeepers has been reversed. But if he needed to be seriously challenged, or even to be warned of a future change, Donnarumma now knows Luis Enrique capable of changing goalkeeper depending on the opponent and his characteristics. And that’s it, except for one detail!
