Lucas Chevalier: “An immense source of pride”
Men's football•
Paris Saint-Germain's new goalkeeper tells us how delighted he is to be pulling on the red and blue shirt.
Lucas, congratulations on signing for the club. What's your initial feeling as a Paris Saint-Germain player?
"An immense source of pride. It's clearly a new milestone in my career. I'm taking it to the next level, and it was important for me to do it now. I felt it was the right time. I think the people close to me are very proud of me. We've been feeling very, very good since we arrived."
You chose to leave your home region, the North, to move to the capital. What inspired you to choose Paris?
"When the best team of the year, maybe even the best team in the world right now, comes calling for you, it's hard to say no. There's everything here. This is a club that wanted the Champions League and won it last season, because it deserved it. The staff, the training facilities, the management... everything is top notch. I'm an ambitious player and I know I can achieve great things. And here, in Paris, staying in France after three successful seasons at Lille, it was the right time. Everything was in place for me to come. As soon as the club came to see me, I knew I wanted to come here."
You're about to be introduced to a new coach, Luis Enrique. Did his presence influence your choice?
"Of course. He's a coach with a very particular way of playing. The goalkeeper's role is very important in his system, and he expects us to play a part in the game, to add real value. The fact that he saw that in me is very flattering and motivates me even more. It's up to me to repay the favour.
I love his energy pitchside, even in the little things like goal celebrations: you can feel the unity, the real collective strength. I was also able to talk to him, and I felt that he was genuinely interested in me coming here. With the season the Club has just had, he's perhaps the best coach in the world at the moment."
You've been playing in Ligue 1 for three years now. What was your image of Paris Saint-Germain up until now?
"I've never won against Paris. When we came to the Parc, we often came at a time when the Club was in great form. In a way, we paid the price for that. But those were also games where I was able to showcase my ability. My first match at the Parc des Princes, we lost 4-3. They're not the most pleasant memories for a goalkeeper, but they leave a mark. The atmosphere at the Parc is unique. They're clearly the best team in France, and probably in Europe. To be lucky enough to join them is exceptional."
Tu as connu ta première convocation avec les A en Équipe de France l’an dernier. En tant qu’international tricolore, c’était important pour toi de poursuivre ta progression en France ?
« Je pense que c’est symbolique : un gardien français à Paris, c’est toujours positif. Je viens du Nord, donc la proximité avec la capitale a aussi facilité mon choix. Il y a la langue, bien sûr. Même s’il y beaucoup de joueurs étrangers ici, je pense qu’ils sont très bien intégrés. Tout est fait pour qu’on s’acclimate vite à la culture et à l’environnement. J’ai ma famille qui sera proche, de bonnes conditions pour progresser… Quand je faisais la balance entre le pour et le contre, il y avait beaucoup de pour. Donc oui, je pense que c’est bénéfique pour moi, pour le club, et aussi pour la sélection. Ça renforce l’image du championnat, et ça me permettra, je l’espère, de performer au plus haut niveau. »
En un peu plus de trois ans, tu es passé de la Ligue 2 à la Ligue 1, puis tu as découvert la Champions League et enfin l’Équipe de France. Comment as-tu vécu cette ascension ?
« C’est vrai qu’en moins de quatre ans, le saut est important. Je savais que je pouvais atteindre ce niveau, je ne savais juste pas à quelle vitesse. À chaque étape, j’ai tout donné. À mon arrivée en Ligue 2, j’étais ultra motivé, pareil en Ligue 1. J’ai pris les étapes dans l’ordre, et ça m’a permis d’arriver ici. Je n’ai pas de recette magique, mais je travaille beaucoup et j’ai un entourage sain. Ma famille, mes amis… tout est bien structuré autour de moi. Il faut faire les bons choix au bon moment. Je prends tout ça avec sérénité, pour arriver prêt à ce nouveau défi et exprimer mes qualités sur le terrain. »
On the pitch, you often gave off an image of serenity, particularly at important moments...
"Yes. At each stage, I take it as if I were playing with my mates. Maybe it's a kind of unawareness of the moment that allows me to relax. That doesn't mean I don't feel anything: there's pressure, stress, sometimes doubts. That's normal in the life of a footballer. But I try to keep things simple, to be at the best possible level. If people perceive that serenity, so much the better. It's positive for me."
There's already a great deal of maturity in the way you express yourself. Where does this come from?
"I don't know exactly. I come from a family of military and police officers. My father is very good at public speaking and so is my brother. Maybe that's something I inherited."
You've met some of the players during your time with Les Bleus. Have you already formed any connections with them?
"Yes, I played with Bradley (Barcola) and Désiré (Doué) at youth level, particularly at the Euro U23. We haven't spoken much recently because they were on holiday while I was working, and it wasn't official yet, but I'm going to catch up with them very soon. I also know quite a few people at the club; there are former Lille guys on the staff and in coordination. That makes it easier to adapt. I'm a private person, so I'm coming in quietly, but I have no doubt that my personality will ensure that everything goes smoothly."
To wrap up, what message would you like to send to the Paris fans?
"First of all, I'd like to thank the President, Luis Campos, the coach Luis Enrique, all his staff and everyone who worked to bring me here. It's an immense joy for me to join Paris Saint-Germain, and I'm going to wear that shirt with love and ambition. It's an ambitious club, and I can't wait to meet the fans. I'm a kid who's living his dream, which is to play for a very big club, and the fact that it's Paris, the Capital Club, means even more to me. I can't wait to see the fans at the Parc and I'm going to give it my all. Together, we'll win a lot of titles. This is Paris!"