Chevalier’s Struggles: PSG’s New Keeper Faces Fierce Competition from Safonov

Lucas Chevalier’s challenges at PSG: An uphill battle against fierce competition

Paris, December 2025: The situation for Lucas Chevalier at Paris Saint-Germain has taken a challenging turn. Signed last summer from LOSC for a significant €40 million, the French goalkeeper was expected to fill the shoes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who moved to Manchester City.

However, Chevalier’s journey as PSG’s number one goalkeeper has been anything but smooth. His tenure was interrupted by a severe injury from a collision with Lamine Camara during a match against AS Monaco on November 29. Following this, he missed crucial games against Rennes and Athletic Bilbao, held on December 6 and 10 respectively. Although Chevalier rejoined the squad for the match against Metz and participated in the Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo in Qatar, he has yet to reclaim his starting position. That role has been occupied by Matvey Safonov, who has been consistently selected for the last four matches.

« Professional football is not for the faint-hearted »

The dynamic between Chevalier and Safonov has been a hot topic of discussion, especially on the After Foot show. Analyst Daniel Riolo weighed in on the rivalry, highlighting Chevalier’s current mental struggles and the contrasting drive of his Russian counterpart.

“Chevalier seems to be struggling in training. It’s possible he’s not performing exceptionally well. He’s mentally vulnerable, disappointed with his season’s start, and finds himself in a precarious position. Meanwhile, Safonov is hungry, believing he deserved more opportunities. He missed his chance last year in Munich when Donnarumma was underperforming. Now, he’s determined to seize this opportunity. It’s up to Chevalier to bounce back. Professional football isn’t for complainers,” Riolo remarked.