'You killed Gianluigi Donnarumma!' – Luis Enrique launches passionate defence of PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier after difficult start to life at Parc des Princes

PSG's decision to replace Donnarumma with Chevalier in the summer caused plenty of headlines, with the Ligue 1 champions warned their new signing would not be able to match the Italy international's level. Chevalier has faced more criticism after an underwhelming start to life in the French capital and came under fire for his performance last time out in a 3-3 draw against Strasbourg.

Former goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier told RMC Sport: "He doesn't have the charisma at the moment. He's not doing enough. He didn't do his job. On the first goal, I thought at first that it was a complicated header, and after analysing it, he's moving back. He shouldn't move back, he should move forward. He's on a back foot, so he dives back and that's a no-go.

"On the second goal, he tried to stretch his leg out, his studs got caught in the turf. For me, for the moment, the suit is too big for Chevalier. You put it with his performances at Lille, he doesn't concede the two goals. He's very small. When you look at him, you get the impression that the goal is huge."

PSG boss Luis Enrique has been quick to defend his goalkeeper. The former Barcelona manager was asked about his stopper ahead of PSG's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen and says he's more than satisfied with his new recruit. 

"It's the same every year, I'm very happy with your feelings. I'm very happy with Lucas Chevalier! For me he's one of the best options or THE best option. I'm very happy with his performances. And when we recruit a player, we think over a long period of time," he told reporters.

"And what I can say about Lucas Chevalier is that I like his personality, his level as player. We are very confident that he will be very important to the team for many years to come.  That is the confidence we have in our player, and especially for me, when I see Lucas Chevalier's performance during these matches, I see what I want to see. And for me, that is enough."

Luis Enrique also criticised the media for their treatment of Chevalier and Donnarumma. The PSG boss says Donnarumma had to put up with harsh media criticism during his time at the club but admitted it's part of the job at a club like PSG.

"He has personality, he showed it and he still shows it in training and in matches. What I like... I think you don't remember for how many years you criticized Gigio Donnarumma. I remember perfectly!" he added.

"The last four years, you killed him. You killed Gigio Donnarumma sportingly. So please... even when I wasn't the coach of Paris Saint-Germain. I felt all the time that you criticised Gigio Donnarumma. When you are a goalkeeper of a club like Paris Saint-Germain, you have to learn to live with that."

Donnarumma proved pivotal to PSG's run to Champions League glory last and, having already won the Men's Yashin Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, is hot favourite to also be named Best Men's Goalkeeper at the equivalent Best FIFA Football Awards. Manchester City saw PSG's surprise willingness to move on from the giant Italian stopper as an opportunity they couldn't turn miss.

PSG have made a perfect start to the defence of their Champions League trophy by beating Barcelona and Atalanta. The defending champions return to action on Tuesday against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.