More than saves: Analysis of the tactical logic behind Paris abandonment of Donarumma

. He responds quickly to high-altitude balls, dares to rush out of the goal line, and is also very confident in the crowd, especially being able to keenly detect the opponent's return to passes - an increasingly common threat in modern football. This decisiveness allows the defenders to maintain a high defense with more confidence, knowing that the goalkeeper will cover the space behind them.

replace Donarumma, which inevitably means changing one of the best savers. His save range, reaction speed, and ability to interpret the goalkeeper’s intentions in one-on-one put him at the top level in blocking obvious scoring opportunities. Paris Saint-Germain's success in the Champions League last season was largely due to his save. However, Shevalier is not a shortcoming in this regard. Although he is not that deterrent in size, his slender figure and limbs give him an excellent save range, and he can stand in advance and react quickly, covering every corner of the goal with just a small movement. His save stats when he was with Lille were impressive, not only because of the high quality of saves, but also because of the high quality of his save chances.

For Paris Saint-Germain, the key is not that Schevalier will definitely save more than Donnarumma, but that he can combine his high-level save ability with the active and ball-oriented traits that the team now values. In top football events, a small gap can affect major decisions. Donnarumma is still a great goalkeeper, but for Paris Saint-Germain, with Schalvalier, the team's tactical style can reach a higher ceiling. The data – more passes, more involvement in offensive organization, more aggressive handling of high-altitude balls – also confirms the intuitive feeling.

timing is also a factor. Paris Saint-Germain believes that under the coaching of Louis Enrique, the team is at the beginning of a tactical cycle, not the mid-term. This makes it the best time to determine a goalkeeper who can grow with the team's style. The 23-year-old Schwarier still has room for improvement, and Paris Saint-Germain believes he has the ability to withstand the pressure of playing for the top European clubs.

Donaruma's future is eye-catching. The Italian goalkeeper's technical features—high-end save ability, calmness in major games, young but experienced—are suitable for many top clubs. But style fit is very important. He can do well when the team's requirements for his offensive organization are simplified so that he can focus on what he is best at - preventing the ball from entering the net.

Despite rumors earlier this week, Manchester United is not pursuing him. But that doesn't mean that there will be no clubs interested in him, especially those that value defensive stability over ball possession. In the right environment, Donarumma can still play a decisive role in the highest level of events. After all, he is the Champions League champion, the European Cup champion, and he is only 26 years old.

"Perhaps only the Premier League teams can meet the club's financial requirements. Their asking price is too high," Raiola said of the player's future on Tuesday. "They say respect, but at this time, the so-called respect may be only money left. This is not a matter of leaving a project to find the most suitable destination for Gigio. From the current situation, we must take a stand and figure out how to deal with the club."

Ultimately, Paris Saint-Germain's decision was not a denial of Donnarumma's ability, but a reflection of the top team's definition of the goalkeeper position now. The goalkeeper's role has gone beyond simple saves and has become more diverse - both scavengers, organizational cores and air controllers. Shevalier represents this concept. He was calm when controlling the ball 30 yards away from the goal, and was confident that he would use a pass to break through the opponent's press, and would decisively attack and fight for it before the ball could threaten. In modern football, these traits may be as decisive as a fingertip save.

For Paris Saint-Germain, it is about integrity. With Shevalier, they believe they can further improve their ball-handling style and maintain their ball-handling for longer than they already stunning ball-handling numbers show. With Donnarumma, they have one of the best traditional goalkeepers in the world; and with Schevaliya, they believe they have a modern goalkeeper who can lead the team to achieve their goals.

The difference may be subtle, but for a club that is determined to win all participating events, the goalkeeper is not only the last line of defense, but also the first line of offense.