Safonov reveals how he experienced Champions League final with PSG

Matvey Safonov won the Ligue des Champions with Paris Saint-Germain on May 30 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, starting in goal for PSG against Arsenal in place of Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Russian goalkeeper opened up about that evening in an interview with YouTube channel Vpiska.

« It’s probably the most important match of my career, » Safonov said, acknowledging that he felt unusual nervousness while trying to approach the game like any other match. « I wanted it to be a normal match. I played well, I didn’t need to change anything. Was I more nervous than usual? Of course. Let’s not fool ourselves. »

On the pitch, the keeper conceded just one goal, scored by Kai Havertz on Arsenal’s only shot on target. During the penalty shootout that sealed PSG’s title, he did not have to make a decisive save, with PSG retaining their European crown without their goalkeeper being tested.

Despite the magnitude of the stakes, Safonov insists he changed nothing in his habits after the final whistle. « As usual, I lay down and watched videos on YouTube. I did as usual, » he reveals, illustrating the composure that allowed him to establish himself as PSG’s number one during the past season.

This rise was one of the standout facts of the 2024-2025 season for PSG. The former Krasnodar goalkeeper reversed the established hierarchy, relegating Lucas Chevalier to backup status — the latter having not played a single official match since January. PSG’s starting lineups in the two consecutive Ligue des Champions finals won were nearly identical, with Safonov being the only change compared to the team fielded the previous year with Donnarumma.