Two days before a crucial Champions League match against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, Luis Enrique is at the root of unease within the PSG locker room. Explanations.
Luis Enrique shakes up PSG: Donnarumma put to the test
Gianluigi Donnarumma, undisputed number one goalkeeper of PSG? Competition from Matvey Safonov could well shake up the hierarchy. Since his arrival in the summer of 2021, the Italian goalkeeper has quickly been established as an indisputable starter. But the emergence of the Russian international, author of convincing performances, could well call this situation into question.
Last Friday, against Toulouse, Matvey Safonov confirmed his potential by offering a solid performance. This increased competition logically pushes Luis Enrique to maintain the suspense regarding his choice for the decisive match against Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening. Arriving this summer from FK Krasnodar, Matvey Safonov is not at all afraid of this competition, quite the contrary, and the Russian, according to Le Parisien, “was particularly amazed by his ability to adapt to his new environment. »
His matches against RC Lens and Toulouse FC also go in the direction of a goalkeeper now well adapted to Paris, even if his kicking game is hardly more accomplished than that of Donnarumma. But with three clean sheets in only five matches played, he has far superior statistics to Donnarumma who has only two in eleven matches. But the timing of this decision by Luis Enrique raises questions.
Goalkeeper war at PSG: The locker room threatened?
After establishing a clear hierarchy at the start of the season, Luis Enrique now seems to want to make competition prevail at the goalkeeper position. The timing of this competition is also puzzling. Gianluigi Donnarumma, who obviously needs to feel confident, is already starting to ask himself questions. The atmosphere in the locker room could even be affected by this situation, according to an employee of the capital club.
“At the time of the Sirigu-Trapp alternation, it had an impact on the locker room. The Italian-Brazilians took up the cause of Sirigu,” recalls this employee quoted by the daily L’Équipe. And when we know the influence of Donnarumma within the Parisian group, this decision by Luis Enrique could clearly have damaging consequences.
Especially since the Spanish technician could still surprise in his composition on Tuesday evening against Vincent Kompany's men. “If Luis Enrique considers that tactically Bayern is entering this type of team, we should not be surprised to see Safonov starting at the Allianz Arenal. It will not be a question of hierarchy, just a tactical adaptation as for all other positions,” wrote journalist Romain Beddouk on Twitter.
