Pressure, targets and his role models: Chevalier tells all | OneFootball

Lucas Chevalier, a 23-year-old goalkeeper for the French team who joined Paris Saint-Germain this summer from Lille, opened up in an interview with beIN SPORTS. He discussed his adaptation to Paris, football director Luis Campos, coach Luis Enrique, and his goals in Paris.

Chevalier "Every detail is made so that we feel good, and that we can be as efficient as possible on the field."

How did you feel when you first entered this locker room?

It's a pride. Then, when you're a player, you're there for a match and you put that aside.

How do you feel in this new environment?

It's very new to me. I did all my training in Lille, going through Valenciennes in Ligue 2. I was also a bit in comfort, with my family and my habits. So it was the logical path for me to come to a club like Paris.

At PSG, everything is bigger. Every detail is made so that we feel good, and that we can be as efficient as possible on the field. We look for the small details. We can say that it's nothing. But over the course of a season, in the end when we want to win trophies, it plays a big role.

Chevalier "I'm not going to start making excuses, talking about pressure."

Does the pressure slide off you?

No, it doesn't slide off (smile). It's there. Then, there's everything that's around. But I think my loved ones were more impacted by that, because they are not actors. They watch, they can't control. I'm in a position where I play, I have to be good, I was recruited for that.

I'm not going to start making excuses, talking about pressure. I was recruited for that. I try to play as if I was with friends, even if sometimes it's not easy because we remain human (smile). But I have this philosophy of being as natural as possible.

Chevalier "He facilitated my integration."

How important was Luis Campos for your arrival at PSG?

It's always easier to know people at the club where you're going to sign. He knows my agents and my family. Directly, there was already affection and interest for me when I was young in Lille, even if there were more important players. It's especially important when you arrive at a club like this to have help. He facilitated my integration. It seems very easy, natural. He was very important. And I'm happy that the story is going like this.

What does Luis Enrique ask for?

Luis Enrique wants to use me in the game, a real 11th player, in the management of spaces between my teammates and me, in the management of depth. I try to be in contact, to be available, I try to ensure continuity in the ball's exit. It's a role that I will have all season and that will be more or less difficult depending on our opponents.

Chevalier "there are obviously much higher expectations."

Change of dimension in the Champions League?

In Lille, we were outsiders, the posture is different. In every match, we had nothing to lose. If we didn't win, people were less demanding. In Paris, we are champions of France and Europe, there are obviously much higher expectations. It's part of the evolution, I will have to bring PSG a return on their investment (laughs).

It's normal, it's football and I came for that. I won a title in the first match. I want to continue, to perform. The media will be more or less laudatory depending on the performances. You have to accept it. I'm very proud to defend these colors. We'll see how it goes over the course of the season.

A model in football?

Yes, then I went through several stages. I grew up at a time when it was Hugo Lloris who was doing Nice, Lyon, he was the rising star in France. I was watching. He was very feline, acrobatic. I liked it, I had a bit more of that style.

But over time, there was Neuer, who changed the position. We see much less of Lloris. I saw Sommer, De Gea, Maignan. I trained with him. What's good is that the goalkeepers who inspire me are different.

Chevalier "At this level, we look for the small details."

What are your areas of improvement?

What people don't see on camera (smile). It's a placement on a center to intervene better, the game of position to make the difference in the end. At this level, we look for the small details. If one day I stop everything, it's because there will be nothing left to do (laughs).

Punching the ball rather than catching it during aerial exits?

I prefer to catch the ball, but we have to face the fact that it's getting more and more complicated to catch the ball today.

What do you wish for this year?

I wish to make myself proud, make my loved ones proud, the supporters and gradually fill the trophy cabinet.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.