Luis Enrique Backs Goalkeeper Chevalier Ahead of Champions League Tie

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique has publicly defended his new first-choice goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier, ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

Chevalier, a close-season signing from Lille, has been preferred over Russian keeper Matvei Safonov to start the campaign. Luis Enrique expressed his full confidence in the 22-year-old, calling him "one of the best options, if not the best."

"He has shown personality. When you are the PSG goalkeeper, you have to learn to live with the criticism. I like Lucas’s mentality and the level he’s showing," Luis Enrique told reporters, adding his belief that Chevalier will be important for the club "for years to come."

The comments came as the Spanish coach drew a comparison with the previous keeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, who left for Manchester City after helping PSG win their first European Cup last season. Luis Enrique sarcastically pointed out, "I think you don’t remember how many years you criticised Gigio Donnarumma. For four years, you killed him sportingly."

PSG currently has six points from their first two games in the expanded 36-team league phase, and Luis Enrique stated the team's aim is to "get as many points as possible" in the difficult group stage.