A little more than a year after his signature at PSG in the summer of 2019, Keylor Navas put an end to the debate that agitated the club of the capital since 2011 and the takeover by Qatar.
Even if his predecessors had all their qualities and their faults, none had ticked all the boxes which would have made it possible to affirm: “It is the goalkeeper which Paris needs.
Navas, 34 years old on December 15, succeeded.
That's why.
PLAY ON THE LINE
"He has fire in the legs", observes Thierry Malaspina, coach of the goalkeepers in Lens./LP/Guillaume Georges
All the professionals are unanimous.
The Costa Rican is a rock on his goal line.
"This is his main strength and he is one of the most efficient goalkeepers in this exercise, even if for me the best remains Oblak", notes Alain Casanova, the former goalkeeper who then became a coach in Toulouse and Lens.
For Thierry Malaspina, Hugo Lloris trainer in Nice, now goalkeeper trainer in Lens, Navas relies on "very interesting explosive qualities".
"He's unconventional in the sense that at times he doesn't technically do the right thing, but it's very effective," Malaspina explains.
For example when he starts on his right side, he just presses on the left leg and ends up on his stomach.
This is typical of South Americans who don't put in a lot of speed but push really hard.
And Navas, he has fire in his legs and upper body gestures above average.
Whether he stays on his line or advances a yard or two, his thrust and ball attack allow him to reduce angles.
OUTPUTS IN THE FEET
"He knows how to stay on his feet and gives no information to the attacker", judge Alain Casanova.
/ PictureAlliance / Icon Sport
Here again, we are talking about an area where Navas excels.
How many head-to-head duels has he won against opposing attackers?
In Paris as in Madrid, or Levante before, the Costa Rican doorman has become a one-on-one specialist.
“It's his other strong point with playing on the line.
He knows how to stay on his feet and does not give any information to the attacker, ”decrypts Alain Casanova.
“He waits until the last moment and takes the attacker wherever he wants,” adds Malaspina.
Either he remains fixed and plays on his movement speed to clear the ball.
Either he has so much speed in his legs that he will wait for the player to crochet to get the ball in his feet.
In addition, its depth reading is very interesting, depending on where the ball is and the attacker.
"
FOOT PLAY
"He can be in difficulty on his first touch", remarks Alain Casanova./LP/Arnaud Journois
There is no consensus on the game at the foot of the Parisian doorman.
For Thierry Malaspina, Navas has the required panoply with short and mid-distance passes: “In his mid-length game stretched to the sides, there are very few technical errors.
He has no difficulty using slammed passes from 6 or 7 meters.
He is not afraid and is able to beat an opponent's defensive first curtain.
Again by making very few mistakes.
"
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For Alain Casanova, however, the finding is less obvious.
“The kicking game is not his greatest strength, nuance the former coach of the TFC.
He can be in difficulty on his first touch, his ability to make decisions quickly or his passing quality, especially when he is evolving under pressure.
For all these reasons, he is not an additional field player for PSG.
"
AIR EXITS
Keylor Navas, at the height of his meter 85, does not always venture into the air ./LP/Guillaume Georges
In the air sector, Navas does not assert himself as the worthy successor of Bernard Lama.
"It's not his cup of tea," sighs Thierry Malaspina.
I don't work with him, but reading trajectories is an area where he shouldn't be comfortable.
Afterwards he is an intelligent goalkeeper and when he decides to go for it, he is safe and has read the trajectory well.
"
Alain Casanova also noted imperfections in the Costa Rican's aerial exits, perhaps due to a height deficit (1m85), but not only: “You never really feel confident.
He comes out very little, and when he does, he will rather box the ball than catch it.
At Real, very good leading players like Ramos or Varane relieved him in this area, and we see that in Paris, the absence of a Marquinhos and the departure of a Thiago Silva highlight his weaknesses in this area. .
"
THE MENTAL
"It is impermeable to pressure", underlines Malaspina./LP/Arnaud Journois
Navas is an experienced goalkeeper, holder of 15 titles, including 3 Champions Leagues, conquered in Europe with Real Madrid and PSG.
Even if everything was not easy for him during his debut at Levante and then at Real, the Costa Rican international with 92 caps has forged a winning mind.
“It's impervious to pressure,” says Malaspina. You don't feel like a stressed guard. He's never going to get upset or walk out of a game. And he doesn't need to put himself in a trance like some people to perform. Besides, Navas never comes out of his game. “What impresses me is his ability to concentrate,” emphasizes Casanova. He makes very few careless mistakes. This shows that he must prepare very well. By his command, he stands out as a real leader. This is what has done good in Paris. "