Friday evening, during the meeting between PSG and Toulouse, Luis Enrique made a turnover at the goalkeeper position. Safonov replaced Donnarumma in goal four days before a Champions League match. A change that encourages defenders to adapt.
Paris Saint-Germain are still undefeated in Ligue 1 this season. The capital club clearly dominated Toulouse at the Parc des Princes on Friday (3-0). For this match, Luis Enrique decided to change the identity of his goalkeeper. Gianluigi Donnarumma thus left his place to Matveï Safonov, starting for the fourth time in the championship since his arrival. An upheaval which brings more competition, even if the Italian goalkeeper is still number 1 in the eyes of the Spanish coach. Moreover, Donnarumma is still a starter in the Champions League but did not shine with his decisive saves, notably against Arsenal and Atlético Madrid during the two Parisian defeats. If the hierarchy is perhaps not completely called into question, this has consequences for the defenders of PSG.
Both goalkeepers are sure of their strengths, but the former AC Milan player leaves with a head start to start the crucial meeting on the pitch at Bayern Munich next Tuesday. A change in the cage from one match to another which has an impact on the activity of the Parisian defenders. As pointed out The Team in a file on this subject, depending on the goalkeeper who is aligned, the players do not have the same benchmarks, particularly when defending on corners. The height of the block is also different and the placement on the field depending on the kicking game too.
A change of goalkeeper, PSG defenders adapt
Several years ago, the competition between Kevin Trapp and Salvatore Sirigu left its mark in the locker room, which clearly took the Italian's side. PSG will have to put their egos aside because a defeat at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday will put the capital club in great difficulty in the race for qualification. A goalkeeper coach from a top European club confirms the possible problem ahead for PSG with this alternation of goalkeepers. “It necessarily weakens. Imagine already, even for a very high level goalkeeper, the pressure that it represents to be in this position in a club like PSG. You know you have a sword of Damocles hanging over your head. Unconsciously or not, you take fewer risks, you have less peace of mind” he explains. Let's hope that Luis Enrique knows what he is doing in his management of btu goalkeepers.
