The Champions League final always goes down in history not only for the players' skills but also for their mental stability, composure, and the decisions made at crucial moments. The 2025/26 final between PSG and Arsenal was full of such dramatic moments.
After the regular and extra time ended without a winner, all attention turned to the penalty shootout. This was a huge pressure for the players of both teams and an opportunity for the goalkeepers to shine. The Parisians eventually won the trophy, but one of the most discussed topics after the final was Arsenal's two missed penalties.
PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov commented on this penalty shootout, clarifying how much he contributed to the mistakes made by the opposing players.
He was asked if he takes credit for Arsenal's two missed shots. Safonov explained the situation in a humorous but quite open manner.
According to the goalkeeper, his movement really influenced the first situation. The opposing player was waiting to see which way Safonov would dive, while the goalkeeper waited patiently, watching the situation until the very end.
“The first one – yes. The second one, I think, was just a shot aimed at the birds, not the goal,” Safonov said.
This answer quickly became a topic of discussion among fans after the final. Safonov not only analyzed the situation but also responded with unique confidence and light irony. In the goalkeeper's opinion, he was able to exert psychological pressure on the opponent during the first penalty.
“On the first penalty, he waited for my movement, and I didn't rush – I wanted to play more confidently. If I had dived earlier, he would have changed the corner,” he emphasized.
Indeed, one of the most important aspects for a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout is patience. Moving early sometimes makes it easier for the striker. If a goalkeeper dives into a corner in advance, the shooter can change direction and easily score. Safonov tried to make the opponent doubt by waiting until the last moment.
That is why he did not hide his contribution to the first missed shot. However, the goalkeeper has a different opinion about the second situation. He says the main reason for that shot was not his movement, but the fact that the player himself shot very inaccurately.
“That's why the first one – yes, I have a contribution. The second one – no. But I was still ready! I had guessed the right side. Even if the shot had been accurate, I was ready to save it,” Safonov said.
These words show how confident and mentally prepared Safonov was during the final. He didn't just rely on luck, but aimed to read the opponent's movement, sense the direction of the shot, and stay ready until the last moment.
In a penalty shootout, a goalkeeper's look, a step, or waiting without rushing can have a huge impact on the shooter. Safonov's patience and composure in the first situation were important in this regard. As for the second shot, as he himself noted, the ball went in a completely different direction, not towards the goal.
Finals are made of such small but decisive details. PSG showed themselves to be strong on that night, not only in attack but also in terms of mental stability and preparation for the penalty shootout. Arsenal, meanwhile, learned a bitter lesson in the big final.
Safonov's words proved one thing once again: a penalty is not just a shot, it is a battle of nerves. Whoever is calm, whoever watches the opponent until the end, and whoever withstands the pressure will have the advantage at the decisive moment.
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