The absolute hero of the Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo, Matvey Safonov may well have reshuffled the goalkeeping hierarchy at PSG. By saving four penalties in the decisive shootout, the Russian goalkeeper delivered a monumental performance that now raises a burning question: can he really be taken out of the starting eleven?
With Safonov starting for PSG, Luis Enrique has (almost) no choice left. For Alain Roche, the answer is clear. The former Paris defender believes Safonov has earned the number one spot, at least in the short term. “He is the penalty man. Four saves out of five, that’s extremely rare. He wouldn’t understand why he should be dropped now. Taking him out would be very complicated,” Roche analyzed in L’Équipe. Especially since the Russian has not disappointed in his rare appearances this season.
A goalkeeping hierarchy shaken at PSG
On the other side, Lucas Chevalier, signed for a high fee last summer, is going through a delicate period. Absent for three matches and left on the bench in the final, the former Lille player remains a fierce competitor, but the timing clearly favors Safonov. In such a favorable context, returning to the original hierarchy is becoming increasingly difficult to justify from a sporting standpoint.
Fully aware of the sensitivity of the issue, Luis Enrique carefully dodged the question in the press conference, choosing to celebrate the trophy rather than open the debate. A silence that speaks volumes. “Do you really think this is the time to talk about that? This is the time to celebrate the trophy and congratulate everyone, those who played, those who didn’t, and to be happy for our supporters. We want to keep making history. Right now, we just have to enjoy this moment,” he said.
Because behind the smiles and the medals, one reality stands out: Safonov struck hard, at the perfect moment. And at a PSG obsessed with immediate performance, ignoring such a recital would almost amount to stubbornness. Officially, nothing has changed. Unofficially, Matvey Safonov has taken a clear lead—and Luis Enrique knows that at this level, performances like this are not brushed aside lightly.
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