Gigi Donnarumma is in dreadful form - should PSG be looking for a new goalkeeper?

This is not panic-button time — not yet, at least. Donnarumma hasn't lost too many of his capabilities as a shot-stopper, and his Golden Ball-winning performances at Euro 2020 should also not be forgotten. But there is more to being a goalkeeper these days than simply being able to move one's hands — or, indeed, legs — towards a ball that would otherwise ripple the back of the net.

And that's where the Italian keeper comes up short. He is an average but unspectacular passer, and doesn't necessarily have the kind of athletic capabilities to play as the 'sweeper keeper' that is needed to compliment PSG's often-suicidally high line.

It's something that is clear in almost every game. PSG concede a concerning number of chances for a side that has ambitions to win not only their domestic league but also push for European glory. Donnarumma, generally, is a busy boy. And every game, he provides a number of key saves. There are diving stops from long-range efforts, bold jumps to deny crosses, and fine, instinctive parries inside the six-yard box.

But he always seems to make at least one mistake. Against Monaco, he simply gifted a goal to Takumi Minamino. Against AC Milan at home, an awkward headed clearance almost allowed the visitors back into a game the Parisians were dominating. And last Wednesday, his inability to hold onto a shot from Miguel Almiron handed Newcastle an opening goal atParc des Princes.

This is not a new concept, either. Blunders against Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2023 and Real Madrid the year before have cost his team dearly in the knockout stages.

Perhaps the worst night of this recent poor run of for Donnarumma was when he returned to Milan to face his boyhood club in November. It was always going to be a tough trip to San Siro as Milan fans have made no secret of their disdain for the goalkeeper since he made his high profile move to PSG in 2021. The then-22-year-old refused to pen a new deal with the Rossoneri, and instead accepted an immensely lucrative contract offer in Paris.

Donnarumma tried to keep things light in anticipation of the clash. “Facing AC Milan means a lot to me, but I need to stay in control of my emotions and focus on the game,” he told PSG's club site before the Parisians hosted Milan, two weeks previously. “I feel really comfortable here; we’re like one big family at Paris Saint-Germain, and that was also the case at Milan. I’ll always keep them in my heart.”

But the Rossoneri fans didn't share the same sentiment. They showered the 'keeper with fake Euros, complete with a picture of his face and the word "mercenario" — Italian for mercenary. He was subject to taunts and boos throughout the contest and lambasted every time he touched the ball. At various points, the San Siro faithful called him "a son of a b*tch", while the nickname "Dolla-ruma" — a jab at his preference for money over his boyhood club — was tossed around with apparent glee.

And then, there was his performance. Although the Parisians took the lead early on, Milan dominated the rest of proceedings, snatching a vital 2-1 win that kept them in the knockout-stage picture. And Donnarumma had a role to play — albeit to the detriment of his side. He parried the ball right into the path of Rafael Leao for Milan's equaliser, and should have saved the Portuguese's close-range effort. While he was steady for the remainder of the contest, Donnarumma's blunder undoubtedly turned a comfortable game into an eventual loss.

However, the concerning error came on Sunday. Donnarumma didn't really look like he knew what he was doing as he staggered out of his penalty area in a bid to beat the onrushing attacker and clear the ball upfield. At first, it seemed that he would win the race comfortably, but as it bounced, the ball stood up and slowed down — and Donnarumma failed to react.

He lazily swung his right leg, only to make contact with Casemir's head in an act that more resembled WWE wrestling than the beautiful game. Donnarumma collapsed to the turf, and rolled over in apparent agony. He recovered remarkably quickly, though, once the referee showed him an entirely deserved red card. In the end, Kylian Mbappe had to escort his keeper off the pitch. It was the fourth red of Donnarumma's career, and first since 2021.

The referee had no choice but to send him off — despite Parisian protestations. It capped off a miserable few weeks for the shot-stopper, who now faces questions as to whether he is the right man for the job going forward.

He was done few favours by the strong performance of his back-up, Tenas. The former Barcelona trainee has usurped Keylor Navas as PSG's No.2 goalkeeper, and it seems the veteran Costa Rican will leave the club in January. Sergio Rico, meanwhile, is close to recovering after an awful horse-riding accident brought his career to a halt six months ago.

Tenas moved to Parc des Princes over the summer after the 22-year-old was not offered a new contract at Barca, and he instead penned a three-year deal with the French champions. He was actually Luis Enrique's first signing as PSG manager, a deal expedited by the fact that the two share the same agent — as well as Catalan heritage.

Luis Enrique has, in fact, always had a soft spot for the youngster. He called Tenas up to his Spain squad in March 2022 despite him having not made a single first-team appearance in Catalunya, with David de Gea among those who were overlooked.

Against Le Havre, Tenas responded to Donnarumma's mishap by producing a seven-save performance, including a late double-stop when his side were leading 1-0 that could have seen the result swing the other way. And perhaps more importantly, he looked far more composed than the No.1 option with the ball at his feet.

The manager, famously critical of some of his players in the press, was quick to praise his reserve 'keeper, saying: "Arnau is an example of what it means to be prepared and to train every day to take advantage of the opportunity he had today. He has received the reward he deserves for his professionalism, and we already knew how good he is." With Donnarumma now facing a suspension, Tenas will get more opportunities to impress, too.

Luis Enrique has an odd history with goalkeepers. He famously left an in-form De Gea out of his Spain side, instead giving Athletic Club's Unai Simon the No.1 shirt. He explained that decision, one that baffled many, at a press conference in June 2022: "A goalkeeper should start the play and generate the first superiority, they must dominate the aerial play. I need a goalkeeper that transmits peace and calmness to me — and that doesn’t mean they won’t make mistakes, errors are part of football. But what they generate, I like a lot."

He did much the same at Barcelona. With Victor Valdes nearing the end of his playing career, Luis Enrique brought in Claudio Bravo, and made him his first-choice option in the Blaugrana's 2014-15 treble-winning season. Marc-Andre ter Stegen was injured at the time, but upon his return to full fitness, Luis Enrique rotated the two shot-stoppers — mostly because both could play with their feet.

Even further back, at Celta Vigo for the 2013-14 season, Luis Enrique recalled Yoel Rodriguez from loan, handing the Celta youth product the starting job between the sticks — and opting not to make permanent the loan of veteran Javi Varas from Sevilla. Rodriguez played every minute of the season, and was encouraged to pass the ball whenever possible.

These are hard-line principles for the PSG manager. He himself has admitted that he has no problem with his goalkeepers making mistakes. "It is me who asks that the goalkeeper cover the space, so if anyone is responsible, it’s me. Most of the time, it goes well. When it doesn’t go well, it’s my problem," he said after Donnarumma's sending off.

But the expectation is that his goalkeeper will learn. There has already been talk of a replacement being lined up, with Lille's Lucas Chevalier reportedly identified as a top target. Whether that becomes more than hearsay remains to be seen, but the pressure is certainly on. Luis Enrique could be ready to shake things up once more.

This is not to say that Donnarumma should regret his Parisian move. Given the expectations of the modern-day goalkeeper, this shift in approach was always likely to happen. He is, in fact, lucky that he has usually been so good with his hands that he has been allowed the opportunity to play catch-up with his feet. His save percentage is still among the best in the world, and he certainly has the raw physical frame to warrant a starting spot at one of the world's biggest clubs.

And he knows that pressure is inevitable. Gianluigi Buffon, his self-professed idol, has admitted as such. “I think Donarumma has grown a thick skin when it comes to criticism and constant self-doubt. I believe when you are considered one of the three best goalkeepers in the world, it becomes normal that every mistake gives rise to this kind of controversy," he told L'Equipe.

Most likely, then, Donnarumma has time on his side. Even Luis Enrique, the famously uncompromising figure, will allow him time to change. But, as the manager has shown in the past, patience can only last for so long.

Donnarumma, for now, will be allowed to make his mistakes. But if they continue, and Tenas impresses in the background, he may not be long for PSG's starting line-up.