Enrique hails debutant goalkeeper Chevalier after PSG's Super Cup win

Qatar Tribune

2 days ago

PAMedia/DPA
Udine (Italy)
Luis Enrique heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain debutant goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier for showing his personality in their Supercup win following days of debate over his battle with Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Italy keeper Donnarumma helped PSG to a maiden Champions League title last season, but eyebrows were raised when the French club signed Chevalier this summer in a big-money transfer.
The cards of Luis Enrique were firmly laid on the table on Monday when Donnarumma was left out of their Super Cup squad for this fixture in his home country and, despite Chevalier being at fault for one of the goals in the 2-2 draw, the 23-year-old saved a penalty from Micky van de Ven to help inspire a 4-3 shoot-out win.
Asked about Chevalier, Luis Enrique said: 'I must say I am very happy.
'I am very happy with the way the game ended. It is very important for him and he showed exactly what he is made of, his character, his personality and things we ask here at PSG because we want him to get stuck in with the team.
'I am so happy with his performance, but also with the performance with regards to how he was helping the team. We are looking to get better, we are on the right track and I think we will be better this year.
'For a curtain-raiser, it was very difficult because everyone was talking about the situation, but Lucas showed personality, he showed good character and showed exactly why he is part of the Paris St Germain team.' It was nearly a different story after Chevalier allowed Cristian Romero's 48th-minute header to slip through his hands.
PSG were two down by this point after Micky van de Ven's tap-in six minutes before half-time, but they staged a stirring fightback with goals by substitutes Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos to leave Tottenham crestfallen in Thomas Frank's first match in charge.
'We are always going and thinking we can win every single match, even when we are losing, but if I have to be honest, I have to say Tottenham deserve much more,' Luis Enrique acknowledged.
'They played better than us, they were playing better than us until the 81st minute. Football is sometimes unfair. In this case, I have to say I am very happy for that but maybe it was unfair.'
Frank proud of
Spurs players
Thomas Frank acknowledged his 'special operation' failed but felt pride in his players after Tottenham surrendered a two-goal lead to lose the Super Cup on penalties to Paris St Germain.
Set-piece goals by Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero had Spurs halfway towards another trophy - only three months on from Frank's predecessor Ange Postecoglou clinching Europa League success in May.
Champions League winners PSG, who only returned to pre-season last week following their Club World Cup exploits in July, fought back impressively - with substitute Kang-in Lee pulling one back with five minutes left before Goncalo Ramos grabbed an equalizer in the fourth-minute of stoppage-time.
It was initially advantage Tottenham in the shoot-out when Vitinha missed PSG's first kick and Rodrigo Bentancur put the Premier League club two up, but it was followed by Van de Ven and Mathys Tel failing to score as Frank's competitive debut ended in a 4-3 shoot-out defeat after a 2-2 draw.
The Danish coach paid tribute to his squad after he lined them up in a back-three formation to largely good effect, in a fixture where they constantly looked a threat at set-pieces.
'Very, very proud of the players, the team, the club, the fans,' Frank reflected.
'I think the players gave everything, playing against one of the best teams in the world, maybe the best at the moment and I think we were 75, 80 minutes perfect. Almost giving nothing away.
'I knew we had to do something a little bit different against PSG. It was a special operation. In medical terms, the operation succeeded but the patient died, so not that good in the end.
'But we worked on a gameplan that was a little bit different and very close to succeeding.
'It was a little bit of special operation because it clearly went in spells a little bit more direct, because we knew that we could hurt them there. Big, big focus on the set pieces, from all areas of the pitch, but we will have focus on set pieces no matter what.'
Frank's game-plan had worked perfectly until the 85th minute - with Van de Ven's opener just reward for a disciplined and dynamic Tottenham first-half display.
New Tottenham boss Frank promised to swiftly lift morale before Saturday's Premier League opener at home to Burnley, adding: 'Every game matters.
'I think if you look on the face of the players and all of us, we are hugely disappointed and I have my rule for 24 hours. I can be disappointed for 24 hours.'