Benoît Costil, former goalkeeper for Rennes and Bordeaux, among others, was asked by L’Equipe to comment on the possibility of Lucas Chevalier (24 years old) getting more playing time with Paris Saint-Germain this week, with Matvey Safonov (27 years old) being rested. He expressed his full confidence in the former Lille goalkeeper, who hasn’t played since January.
Costil: “He hasn’t lost his talent, so it’s all in his head.”
“This could be the right time to give him another chance; they’re not immune to the possibility of something happening with Safonov either. Having a goalkeeper with a minimum amount of playing time would be beneficial. He hasn’t lost his talent, so it’s all in his head. The goalkeeping staff needs to keep him motivated, along with personal work with his family and friends, but he has a very good support system, so I have no doubt about that.
He mustn’t give up, and I know he won’t. It won’t be a wasted season; he’s played 26 matches, after all. He has the potential and the talent to be PSG’s goalkeeper. He’s a top-level goalkeeper who will play at the highest level. But the psychological aspect is crucial during these periods.”
Obviously, Chevalier hasn’t suddenly lost all his qualities. He shone at Lille, enough to be sought after by many fans, as well as the sporting management and coach Luis Enrique. But the first few months were difficult; it can happen to anyone. Adapting to life in the capital, with its particular pressure, can sometimes be especially challenging.
The future of the French international seems very uncertain in Paris right now, but football can change very quickly. For example, Matvey Safonov seemed stuck as the number two goalkeeper not so long ago.
The key is to get Chevalier back on track, so he regains his confidence and has a greater impact on matches. It’s neither easy nor impossible. We hope that PSG and Chevalier will find the right formula. We can’t forget that the club has made a significant investment (€40 million).
