Donnarumma's Departure: PSG's Goalkeeping Dilemma

Paris, Sep 23 (AP) While Gianluigi Donnarumma was celebrated with the best men's goalkeeper award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday night, Lucas Chevalier faced a challenging evening as Paris Saint-Germain fell to a 1-0 defeat against Marseille.

In a difficult moment for Chevalier, he struggled to deal with a cross from the right side, which allowed Nayef Aguerd to score a commanding header at Stade Velodrome.

Chevalier appeared far from the ball, with his right arm flailing and his back turned—an unconvincing display of goalkeeping.

The early setback put PSG on the defensive and allowed Marseille to control the match's rhythm.

It remains to be seen whether PSG coach Luis Enrique's decision to part ways with the 26-year-old Donnarumma was premature, especially considering that Donnarumma is yet to reach his prime years.

Chevalier stepped in for Donnarumma this season in a surprising move, given Donnarumma's crucial role in PSG's Champions League victory with his shot-stopping prowess, particularly notable in the knockout stages. Luis Enrique himself lauded Donnarumma as “a titan” following PSG's win against Arsenal in the first leg of their semifinal.

Compared to Donnarumma, who was a key figure in Italy's triumph at the European Championship in 2021 and during PSG’s Champions League round of 16 battle against Liverpool, Chevalier is significantly less experienced.

Donnarumma boasts 76 appearances for Italy, whereas Chevalier has yet to make his debut for France and has only a single season of Champions League experience.

Nonetheless, Luis Enrique desired a different style of goalkeeper, one with enhanced ball-playing skills to enable his team to push higher up the pitch, essentially a sweeper-keeper who can also function as an additional outfield player.

Donnarumma's occasional errors in distributing the ball during his tenure at PSG were reportedly a crucial factor in Luis Enrique's decision to acquire Chevalier from Lille for approximately 40 million euros ($47 million).

However, Chevalier's performance against Marseille was not without faults. Late in the game, when under pressure, his hurried pass nearly resulted in a second goal, as a Marseille player pressed him.

In the wake of his departure from PSG, Donnarumma expressed his frustration last month. Although he did not explicitly point fingers, he made his sentiments clear. “Unfortunately, someone has decided that I can no longer be part of the group and contribute to the team's success,” he shared on Instagram. “I am disappointed and disheartened.”

Donnarumma has received acclaim in the British media for his display at Manchester City, where he impressed during the 1-1 draw against Arsenal last Sunday. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta praised his timing and commanding presence in the penalty area. (AP) DDV

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)