Daniel Farke told James Trafford to keep up his brash style of goalkeeping after perhaps the £45m man's least commanding performance since joining Leeds United.
It was not as if the Cumbrian was terrible on his 24th birthday, making a good low save from Martin Odegaard in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.
But if being Britain's most expensive goalkeeper brings scrutiny, being in a two-way fight to be England's first choice amplifies it.
So when Trafford got both hands to Riccardo Calafiori's equaliser, and when he ought to have been punished for rushing out of his area and not winning the ball after Bruno Guimaraes' winner, eyebrows were raised.
FIGHTING IT OUT: Viktor Gyokeres tackles James Trafford (Image: John Walton)placeholder image
FIGHTING IT OUT: Viktor Gyokeres tackles James Trafford (Image: John Walton)
Just not by his manager.
"James' confidence and aura, you can even grab it more or less on the pitch," said Farke, who saw his side rewarded for an excellent first hour by James Justin's goal, only for Arsenal to hit back.
"He gives it to us and always quick with his saves. I'm very happy with this.
"It was also not a mistake for the (Calafiori) goal. It was just a bit unlucky because on a world-class day he has a chance to put it over the crossbar.
EQUALISER: Riccardo Calafiori finds the net (Image: AP Photo/Alastair Grant)placeholder image
EQUALISER: Riccardo Calafiori finds the net (Image: AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
"It was not to be but it was definitely not a mistake.
"He is also a goalkeeper who takes more risks, in his positioning (high up the field). Sometimes there's perhaps even a bit more confidence.
"If you see that the centre-back is also in a running duel, he can stay a bit more on the goalline.
"But we also want him to be proactive and if he is like this, perhaps sometimes he comes even a bit too soon out of his goal.
"I don't want to change him at all because it's also the strength of his game and overall he is a very important player for us.
"He has shown really good performances so far this season."