In Le Parisien, Matvey Safonov, 27, the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, remains at the center of the debate ahead of the clash against Liverpool. The argument is clear: despite a less reassuring period, Paris should not disrupt its goalkeeping hierarchy at the worst possible time.
Alonzo: “Let’s be honest, doing it now is a tough call.”
“Should we bring Lucas Chevalier back into the fold? Let’s be honest, doing it now is a tough call. Lucas hasn’t played for over three months now. Even if things aren’t going Safonov’s way, I’m sure he’ll be the one to play against Liverpool. Chevalier’s future, however, will be uncertain if Safonov has a poor game against the Reds on Wednesday night at the Parc des Princes. But I can tell you, the coach would be in a real bind because bringing Lucas back at Anfield wouldn’t be easy either. But barring a major disaster in the first leg, I think Safonov isn’t in danger for the two matches against Liverpool.”
Alonzo’s assessment isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but it’s consistent with the logic of a European fixture of this caliber. Yes, Safonov is going through a rough patch, and Le Parisien reminds us that Lucas Chevalier is still an option. But reopening the competition now would mean throwing a goalkeeper who hasn’t played in nearly three months into a crucial two-legged tie against Liverpool.
In other words, PSG would create a second problem while trying to fix the first. The analysis is cold, almost clinical: as long as Safonov doesn’t falter in the first leg, continuity should take precedence over the temptation of change. In this matter, the established hierarchy weighs at least as heavily as current form. And that’s the crux of the issue: if Safonov falters at the Parc des Princes, Paris will arrive at Anfield with enormous doubt and no truly reliable solution. It’s not just a question of quality; it’s primarily a scheduling problem.
