Archive August 14, 2025

Paris St-Germain head coach Luis Enrique made a “brutal call” in replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma with Lucas Chevalier as the European champions move away from an “older-style goalkeeper”.

Despite his heroics last season as the club won the Champions League, Italian Donnarumma was dropped for Wednesday’s Super Cup meeting with Tottenham – and made available for transfer with one year left on his contract.

Chevalier, signed from Lille earlier this week, has been handed the starting role and helped PSG overcome Tottenham on penalties following a dramatic 2-2 draw in Udine.

Luis Enrique said the decision was “100%” his as the PSG boss opted for a “different profile” of goalkeeper in the 23-year-old Chevalier.

While Donnarumma’s saves were crucial in helping the French side to glory in May as they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0, he has often been criticised for his ability with the ball at his feet.

French football journalist Julien Laurens said “without Gianluigi Donnarumma, I don’t think PSG win the Champions League”.

Yet he also understood why they went “with someone different” as he told BBC Radio 5 Live: “They have made a call, a brutal call. Lucas Chevalier is better on the ball, better in the air, better with distribution, but he doesn’t have the experience.

In making a decision that has surprised many in world football, Luis Enrique believes Chevalier will improve PSG even more, especially with his team’s playing style.

The French keeper has been likened to a five-a-side player because of the quality of his touch, vision and ability to break lines with his passing from the back.

Chevalier can effectively turn into an outfield player for PSG when in possession as they look to build an attack from their own defensive line.

Replacing Donnarumma will be tough, but he stepped up successfully as Lille’s first choice in the 2022-23 season after just a season in Ligue 2 with Valenciennes. Pressure should not be an issue.

Chevalier was named Ligue 1’s best goalkeeper last term with 11 clean sheets as his side finished fifth, while earning a call-up to France’s senior squad.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The goalkeeper situation is a huge decision from Luis Enrique. Gianluigi Donnarumma is the best shot stopper and he is the best version of the older-style goalkeeper, but they have been replaced by the modern-day keeper who play in the defensive third.

“Luis Enrique is leaning into the way that modern teams want to play and build from the back. PSG are looking for that ninth degree, that tiny little bit of percentage of advantage and with Lucas Chevalier they feel they can further refine their style.”

Signs of what Chevalier will bring were seen during his debut against Spurs, with PSG opting to go short on goal-kicks and showing no fear when using him in general play.

He should have done better with Cristian Romero’s header that put the Premier League side 2-0 ahead, but showed great reflexes in a stunning save to push Joao Palhinha’s effort on to the bar, although Micky van de Ven netted the rebound for Spurs’ opener.

Chevalier then stopped Van de Ven’s penalty in the shootout as PSG won after a superb comeback in normal time from 2-0 down.

But why would a goalkeeper, favourite to be crowned the world’s best this year, be frozen out like this?

Luis Enrique has said he wanted a “different profile” to what Donnarumma gave his side.

Before the Super Cup, the PSG boss clarified it was “100%” his decision to cut Italy’s first-choice stopper from his squad, with Donnarumma “disappointed and disheartened” by the outcome.

The 26-year-old arrived from AC Milan on a free transfer in 2021 and enhanced his reputation in Paris.

But with football continuing to evolve, goalkeepers are not just shot stoppers, but are also used as deep-lying playmakers to open up a new dimension of play. This is why Ederson has proved so valuable for Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been linked with Donnarumma, but Laurens said he is “not a Pep Guardiola-type of keeper”.

Paris St-Germain head coach Luis Enrique made a “brutal call” in replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma with Lucas Chevalier as the European champions move away from an “older-style goalkeeper”.

Despite his heroics last season as the club won the Champions League, Italian Donnarumma was dropped for Wednesday’s Super Cup meeting with Tottenham – and made available for transfer with one year left on his current contract.

Chevalier, signed from Lille earlier this week, has been handed the No1 spot and helped PSG overcome Tottenham on penalties following a dramatic 2-2 draw in Udine.

Luis Enrique said the decision was “100%” his as the PSG boss opted for a “different profile” of goalkeeper in the 23-year-old Chevalier.

While Donnarumma’s saves were crucial in helping the French side to glory in May as they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0, he has often been criticised for his ability with the ball at his feet.

French football journalist Julian Laurens said “without Gianluigi Donnarumma I don’t think PSG win the Champions League”.

Yet he also understood why they went “with someone different” as he told BBC Radio 5 Live: “They have made a call, a brutal call. Lucas Chevalier is better on the ball, better in the air, better with distribution, but he doesn’t have the experience.

In making a decision that has surprised many in world football, Luis Enrique believes Chevalier will improve PSG even more, especially with his team’s playing style.

The French keeper has been likened to a five-a-side player due to the quality of his touch, vision and ability to break lines with his passing from the back.

Chevalier can effectively turn into an outfield player for PSG when in possession as they look to build an attack from their own defensive line.

Replacing Donnarumma will be tough, but he stepped up successfully as Lille’s first choice in the 2022-23 season after just a season in Ligue 2 with Valenciennes. Pressure should not be an issue.

Chevalier was named Ligue 1’s best goalkeeper last term with 11 clean sheets as his side finished fifth, while earning a call-up to France’s senior squad.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The goalkeeper situation is a huge decision from Luis Enrique. Gianluigi Donnarumma is the best shot stopper and he is the best version of the older-style goalkeeper, but they have been replaced by the modern-day keeper who play in the defensive third.

“Luis Enrique is leaning into the way that modern teams want to play and build from the back. PSG are looking for that ninth degree, that tiny little bit of percentage of advantage and with Lucas Chevalier they feel they can further refine their style.”

Signs of what Chevalier will bring were seen during his debut against Spurs, with PSG opting to go short on goal-kicks and showing no fear when using him in general play.

He should have done better with Cristian Romero’s header that put the Premier League side 2-0 ahead, but showed great reflexes in a stunning save to push Joao Palhinha’s effort on to the bar, although Micky van de Ven netted the rebound for Spurs’ opener.

Chevalier then stopped Van de Ven’s penalty in the shootout as PSG won after a superb comeback from 2-0 down.

But why would a goalkeeper, favourite to be crowned the world’s best this year, be frozen out like this?

Luis Enrique has simply stated he wanted a “different profile” to what Donnarumma gave them.

Before the Super Cup, the PSG boss clarified it was “100%” his decision to cut the Italian from his squad, with Donnarumma “disappointed and disheartened”.

The 26-year-old arrived from AC Milan on a free transfer in 2021 and enhanced his reputation in Paris.

But with football continuing to evolve, goalkeepers are not just shot stoppers and used as deep-lying playmakers to open up a new dimension of play. This is why Ederson has proved so valuable for Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been linked with Donnarumma, but Laurens said he is “not a Pep Guardiola-type of keeper”.

It looked like being a dream debut for Tottenham boss Thomas Frank.

Leading 2-0 with little more than five minutes remaining against European champions Paris St-Germain, surely the Super Cup was on its way to north London.

Not so. A stirring comeback from the Parisians and a shootout win stopped Spurs from becoming the first Europa League winners to lift the Super Cup since 2018.

But the Dane’s fingerprints were all over this Tottenham performance, which showed promising signs for 85 minutes.

Set-pieces? Check. Pragmatism? Check. Efficiency? Check.

“I think we played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world, maybe the best at this moment in time,” said Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou as manager this summer.

“We had them exactly where we wanted them for 80 or so minutes. Then the momentum changed with the 2-1 goal. The team and fans have a lot to be proud of.

“The first half was almost perfect and obviously set-pieces were very good and we were very dangerous.

“At times I think we showed that we can play up against any team in the world.”

There’s work to be done for Tottenham; their late collapse was evidence of that.

Indeed, it should concern Frank that his team wilted at the first sign of pressure against a side who have had just two pre-season training sessions in the bag.

But for the vast majority of this Uefa Super Cup meeting that ultimately ended in penalty heartache, there were enough signs to suggest Frank has the basis of a system and approach that can be built on.

Inside the opening 10 minutes, the approach was entirely noticeable. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario kicked long five times as Tottenham opted to keep their shape higher up the pitch rather than collect the ball deep inside their own half and pass their way up the field.

Ange Postecoglou’s high-risk approach was easy on the eye but the final 18 months of his reign at Tottenham – despite that euphoric Europa League win in Bilbao last May – told us the Australian’s methods weren’t working.

This was a Tottenham performance less to do with capturing the imagination than capturing the victory.

For example, Postecoglou was maligned for a perceived lack of attention to detail in regard to preparing for set-pieces.

It was significant, then, that both of Tottenham’s goals arrived via dead balls.

Expect Frank’s Tottenham to excel at set-pieces in their own penalty box, too.

His Brentford side conceded only three Premier League goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) last season – three fewer than any other team in the division.

Offensively, Brentford were also one of the strongest. Only four teams – Arsenal (14), Crystal Palace, Aston Villa (both 16) and Nottingham Forest (17) – scored from more Premier League set-pieces last season.

Here in Udine, there were clear indicators that Spurs will develop such strength in the coming months.

This was an effective Tottenham display rather than an enchanting one.

Frank said: “I knew we had to do something different against PSG. It was a special operation. And 2-2 against PSG, I think you take that – that single result is good.

“In spells, we went more direct as we knew we could hurt them. There was focus on set-pieces, but there will always be a focus on set-pieces.

“High pressure is a non-negotiable. We went man for man in some aspects.”

There was a time when the style of play mattered to Tottenham fans. Ask Jose Mourinho. Ask Antonio Conte.

Both received criticism from supporters for their pragmatic styles. Tottenham’s traditions for producing attacking teams still carries weight to this day. It will be interesting to see if supporters get on Frank’s back for his tactical approach if things start to falter.

Tottenham debutants Joao Palhinha and Mohamed Kudus both showed promising signs in Italy.

Kudus, in particular, was excellent – his pace and power created problems for PSG’s rearguard throughout.

Yet Tottenham still have work to do in the transfer market before the window closes on 1 September.

Spurs are looking at offensive reinforcements. They are in club-to-club talks over moves for Manchester City winger Savinho and Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze.

They are also after a centre-back before the deadline, but their first choice target Marc Guehi seems out of reach at the moment.

If Tottenham can sign two high-quality attackers and a defender before the window closes, then that would represent a successful summer in the market.

There are holes in Frank’s squad that still need plugging. Tottenham are trying to rectify that.

Former Tottenham and England keeper Paul Robinson, talking to BBC Radio 5 Live: In the next 24-48 hours, Thomas Frank has to go back to the training ground, unpack it, show the players video of everything they did well and put the belief back into them.

I think this will be damaging for Tottenham, I really do. You can see the players standing on the pitch separately in little huddles and on their own. They are absolutely devastated.

They got the trophy that they had been longing for last season and this could have been a real step forward for Tottenham. Instead it’s a real blow.

Former Spurs winger Aaron Lennon on BBC Radio 5 Live: You can see that the Tottenham players are hurting. As a player you know games you should win and this was one of them.

Five minutes to go, 2-0 up, see it out. Even when it goes to 2-1, you’ve got to know how to see a game out.

Tottenham didn’t handle that well enough.

I still think Tottenham need a few players in. There are links with Eberechi Eze and Savinho. Losing James Maddison [to injury] and Son Heung-min is huge for this football club – two big players and big characters and leaders, and lots of goals and assists.

Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy talking to BBC Sport: Tottenham went man for man and gained control with their discipline. It has to be done perfectly and you can see they have worked on it.

The good thing for Tottenham was even when they dropped deep they were OK. There were a lot of good things for Tottenham fans from that first half.

Set-plays were a big part of Frank’s Brentford last season and I think that will be a good thing for Tottenham this season.