Matvey Safonov has a reason to be grateful to Lamine Camara. The significant tackle by the Monaco midfielder, which should have earned him a straight red card during PSG’s 1-0 loss at Louis-II last Saturday, has left Lucas Chevalier injured with an ankle issue. Although Chevalier continued in the match, he is expected to miss the upcoming game against Rennes. This presents an opportunity for Safonov, who has yet to play any minutes this season.
At this time last year, Safonov had already participated in six matches. The idea of competing with Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was not in top form back then, had even crossed the minds of the coaching staff. Safonov was given a starting position in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, but his performance was not successful as he was at fault for the only goal of the match. After that, the debate over the starting goalkeeper ceased as Donnarumma delivered strong performances.
Internal Discussions on Rotation
This season sees a shift in expectations, and Safonov anticipated getting some playing time due to Chevalier’s struggles. According to L’Equipe, Chevalier’s inconsistent performances have sparked discussions within the club. “Internally, some have questioned the need to keep Chevalier as the undisputed starter,” the newspaper reports. The idea of rotating between the two goalkeepers was raised but quickly dismissed by Luis Enrique.
Enrique immediately expressed his confidence in Chevalier, wanting to give him the time to adjust to the demands of his role. He has consistently rejected the notion of placing both goalkeepers on equal footing. For him, it is clear that Chevalier holds the primary position ahead of Safonov, despite his early-season challenges. Additionally, a third goalkeeper, Renato Marin, is emerging as a promising talent. While there are no current plans for Safonov to leave, circumstances could change in the coming months.
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