Matvey Safonov: PSG’s Russian goalkeeper, a ‘natural-born leader’ with talent for chess and maths

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“When he went to Paris Saint-Germain, I said this is the happiest day for our academy, because now I talk to all our boys and girls here and tell them, ‘Even if you are from the small town of Krasnodar, from Russia, there is no ceiling; you can do anything.’

“We have his T-shirt and photographs in our halls. I say, ‘Look at Safonov, that is the place you may go.'”

Aram Fundukyan, director of the academy at FC Krasnodar, a city in southern Russia, is explaining to TheAthletic his pride at seeing former player Matvey Safonov cement his place as the No 1 goalkeeper in Luis Enrique’s side.

Safonov, who joined PSG from Krasnodar in summer 2024 for €20million (£17m; $23m), has had to bid his time in the French capital. However, after his penalty heroics in the FIFA Intercontinental final against Flamengo in December last year — where he fractured his hand in the shootout but still saved four penalties in a row — he has become a mainstay.

As attention turns to PSG’s Champions League semi-final tie against Bayern Munich and the defense of their European crown, Safonov faces his toughest test yet — trying to keep Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Luis Diaz at bay over two games.

Safonov, who started his soccer profession in Krasnodar’s academy aged 12, will not be your typical footballer.

A proficient mathematician, he likes studying up on the topic, whereas additionally fixing puzzles, thoughts video games and equations. He additionally enjoys Russian billiards and is a collector of board video games. He’s a eager chess participant, a talent honed at Krasnodar — the membership based by billionaire Sergey Galitsky — who made his fortune by creating nationwide grocery store chain, Magnit.

Galitsky, who hailed from that area in southern Russian, created Krasnodar in 2008 and then set about setting up a state-of-the-art stadium, coaching floor (utilized by Spain on the 2018 World Cup) and one of many nation’s most spectacular academies.

“In our academy, we have mandatory chess lessons two times a week for all the boys and girls,” Fundukyan tells TheAthletic. “And (Safonov) was really good at it. At the end of the season, the president of our club usually gives a game on the 15 tables, and Matvey was one of the rare few who beat him.”

The eldest of three brothers, the youngest of whom can also be a goalkeeper in FC Krasnodar’s academy, Safonov was famend for his management qualities.

“He’s very smart — he always had good grades in school and whichever team he played in, he would always be the captain,” says Fundukyan, who nonetheless recurrently speaks to Safonov. “He’s a natural-born chief. Sometimes I’d say he is an outdated man in a younger man’s physique.

“If I wanted to discover what was happening in the team, I would ask him and he would give me the perfect analysis.”

Sergey Matveev, a former first-team coach at Krasnodar, who additionally coached Safonov when he managed the Russian Under-17s, agrees.

“He always left a good impression,” he tells TheAthletic. “He was a leader in the locker room and brought confidence and vitality to the team.”

Safonov, whose father teaches youth basketball, was noticed by Krasnodar when he was at college. “He had a talent, quick reactions, really fast,” Fundukyan recollects. “When we try to choose the goalkeepers, we always look at the parents, the height. From the first day, he said, ‘I’m going to be the goalkeeper.'”

Safonov, a dedicated coach, has an inside power and self-confidence that has enabled him to bounce again from robust moments.

In one of many greatest nights of his profession, a Champions League match at dwelling to Frank Lampard’s Chelsea in October 2020, he had a disappointing recreation — one thing he was decided to place proper when PSG drew the identical opponents within the final 16 of this season’s Champions League.

Particularly within the second leg, at Stamford Bridge, he made a string of spectacular saves to maintain a clear sheet as PSG gained 3-0 on the night time and 8-2 on combination.

Matvey Safonov enjoying for Krasnodar towards Chelsea in 2020 (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP through Getty Images)

“I told him, ‘This is the time for revenge for you.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to do it.’ So when they went through, he was very happy,” Fundukyan says.

In his penultimate season in Russia, he even misplaced his beginning spot for a handful of matches, together with within the Russian Cup ultimate towards CSKA Moscow, earlier than returning to the aspect and having an impressive final marketing campaign at Krasnodar.

He took time to adapt at PSG and discovered himself behind Gianluigi Donnarumma within the pecking order. He was given the possibility to stake his declare in a huge Champions League group recreation towards Bayern Munich, in November of 2024. However, he was at fault for Bayern’s objective, failing to deal with a nook, as PSG misplaced 1-0.

He didn’t play within the Champions League once more that season and was largely restricted to matches within the Coupe de France.

Even this time period, Safonov spent the primary half of the season on the bench as Luis Enrique favored Lucas Chevalier, who was signed for his ball-playing skills after arriving from Lille for €40m. Donnarumma then moved to Manchester City in a deal value near €30m.

However, after a tough begin to life at PSG for Chevalier, Safonov was handed his first begin of the season on December 6, towards Rennes. He impressed in a 5-0 victory, earlier than his penalty shootout heroics towards Flamengo noticed him displace Chevalier.

In that shootout, Safonov saved 4 consecutive penalties — an much more extraordinary feat given he fractured his hand saving Flamengo’s third spot kick.

In a February interview with Sports.RuSafonov spoke at size about his meticulous preparation for penalties.

“I make my decisions based on what I know about the striker’s previous shots,” he told the Russian publication. “I can say that as soon as I see a player approaching the ball, I already know what I’m going to do. You can also determine the direction of a shot by the players’ facial expressions or behavior. It’s like tells in poker.”

However, Safonov, who believes penalties are a talent, was wanting to downplay his function because the hero towards Flamengo.

“He said, ‘I don’t know what all this fuss is about. If you look at the game, it wasn’t my best — I made some mistakes,'” Fundukyan explains. “He would always separate the game he plays with the penalties after, as he says it’s a different game.

“He would always analyze and be the best critic of himself.”

Safonov missed six video games due to his fractured hand, earlier than returning to the aspect towards Newcastle United on January 28. He has been an ever-present since. There have nonetheless been wobbles, however Luis Enrique has stored religion.

In phrases of how the 2 PSG goalkeepers have fared this season, the information reveals Safonov is outperforming Chevalier. While Chevalier has confronted extra pictures, Safonov has the higher goals-prevented determine of +0.77, in comparison with Chevalier’s -1.33. The Russian additionally boasts a stronger save proportion of 71.2 per cent to Chevalier’s 64.1 per cent.

The numbers additionally spotlight how Safonov is making cross claims or sweeping outdoors his field greater than twice the speed Chevalier is, though the Frenchman is more proficient with his toes, enjoying extra passes, finishing at a increased price.

Safonov, who additionally captains his nation, signed for PSG two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That resulted in a ban on Russian membership groups and nationwide sides in any FIFA and UEFA competitions.

“I have to deal with it,” Safonov told Russian outlet Championat. “All Russian athletes are under pressure right now.”

PSG signed Ukrainian central defender Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth. When requested about his relationship with Safonov, Zabarnyi told Football 360 in September: “I do not maintain any personal relations with any Russians. As for my team-mate, I have to interact with him on a professional level during training and will fulfill my obligations to the club.”

The Russian nationwide group are nonetheless enjoying associates towards non-Western international locations. Safonov’s final recreation for Russia was in a 3-1 pleasant victory over Nicaragua final month. That was performed at Krasnodar and he was given a hero’s welcome by his dwelling crowd, though he was at fault for Nicaragua’s objective.

In Paris, Safonov began studying French and already speaks the language fluently. He initially rented an condominium within the heart of Paris with his spouse, Marina Kondratiuk, however they’ve since moved nearer to the coaching floor.

“Any adaptation is a continuous process, and now we can confidently say we’ve reached a point where we truly feel settled,” Marina tells TheAthletic. “We’ve found our social circle, gained a deeper understanding of French culture, and can honestly say we feel at home here.

“We enjoy exploring new things, going to exhibitions and concerts and, luckily, Paris offers an incredibly rich cultural scene.”

The couple usually spend their evenings enjoying board video games and doing crosswords.

Safonov has additionally solid a shut relationship with Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who beforehand performed membership soccer in Russia.

Back dwelling in Krasnodar, Fundukyan might be cheering on his former protege when he traces up towards the German champions.

“He was always rising and I think he’s still rising,” he provides. “That’s because of his mindset and talent.”