The hero of PSG’s penalty shootout victory over Marseille on Thursday night, Lucas Chevalier fully enjoyed the moment in the mixed zone — and took the opportunity to settle a few scores, particularly with journalists and those who have criticized him.
From Villain to Hero against Marseille
Blamed for a costly mistake at the Vélodrome on September 22 during PSG’s 1–0 defeat to OM, Chevalier delivered his best performance in a Paris shirt against the same opponents on Thursday.
In addition to making several decisive saves during the match — notably denying Leonardo Balerdi early on — the French goalkeeper stopped two penalties during the shootout.
Unsurprisingly, he was all smiles when speaking to Ligue 1+ after the match:
“I knew that if it went to penalties, I was going to save them because I was too determined today to help the team and win this trophy. So yes, I’m happy — always measured, but very happy — for myself and for Paris Saint-Germain.”
“I have a lot of qualities — and we saw that again today”
Chevalier then spoke at length in the mixed zone about a performance he considered accomplished, but not perfect:
“Yes, I think this is my best match since I arrived in Paris because I was tested from start to finish. I had important saves to make, even if everything wasn’t perfect.
I made a lot of saves, so people will say it was my best match — but being a goalkeeper isn’t just that. There are situations where I know I can do better, but that’s invisible work.
I work to be more efficient. I have a lot of qualities, and today we saw that again. People already saw it at Lille, but when you do it in Paris, it matters more to people.”
Chevalier fires back at the media
Pleased to have proven himself in a big match, Chevalier then addressed his difficult first months in Paris — including losing his starting spot after his injury in Monaco and Matvey Safonov’s strong performances.
And he did not spare the media.
“You journalists didn’t make life easy for me”
“There was a change of environment, of dimension, and I learned a lot from that. But you journalists are the first actors in this — you didn’t make life easy for me, that also needs to be said.
But that’s part of being a top-level athlete. If you want to reach the next level, the demands are extreme. I knew I was doing some things well, others less well.
But I’m comfortable in my own skin. I know what I’m capable of, I know I can help PSG a lot, and I won’t give up no matter what. People can think whatever they want — it won’t change anything for me.”
“I was destabilized — but never vulnerable”
Chevalier did acknowledge that the criticism affected him, though without ever breaking him:
“How did I feel for those two months? Maybe a bit destabilized, because I had never been in that situation before. But I was never vulnerable or anything like that.
I just absorbed it — that’s what you have to do. It might happen again later in my career, when people try to challenge me, but that’s part of the game.
Today I’m very happy to help the team. There are a lot of matches here. I know that at PSG you have to perform every three days.
If I’m good today, I’m the best goalkeeper in the world; next week I can be one of the worst. So I’ll just try to give my maximum every time. But don’t worry — I’m doing very well.”
Full backing from Luis Enrique
Finally, the former Lille keeper was asked about Luis Enrique’s support — and delivered another blunt response:
“Well, they’re the ones who chose me. They’re the ones who wanted me. They did everything to bring me here, and I did everything to come.
So it would be too easy to blame someone else or say people weren’t behind me. Inside the club, there’s no issue.
We know that when you have quality — and a strong mindset — it always ends up paying off.”
A performance, a statement, and a message delivered loud and clear.