"I see my role in the first of Arsenal's two penalty shootouts."

On Saturday, May 30, Matvey Safonov won his eighth trophy with PSG and became the first Russian player with two Champions League wins, as well as the first to start the final game. The Parisian club beat Arsenal in a penalty shootout (1:1, 4:3) — The Londoners in it missed the gate twice. After the game in Budapest, Izvestia and Sport-Express managed to talk to one of the main characters of the match and find out Safonov's opinion about these blunders.

"My head is a little uneven now!"

— Matthew, congratulations! How did you feel during those two days when you arrived in Budapest, when you trained here? What were you thinking about before the game?

— Thank you! We arrived yesterday. In principle, I was in a working mood. It is clear that the importance of the game was felt. The mood of the team was cohesive, but at the same time calm. I think everyone understood that we were approaching the match in the status of champion, the current winner of the Champions League. And everyone was sure that we could at least do it again. But they also understood something else: Only the game will show what happens in the game.

— Tell us about the Arsenal goal. Could you have done something else there?

— I think it's wrong to discuss Arsenal's goal now. We need to watch the replays, sort them out. I think it was possible to play a little differently, but I had my own reasons in the game, my own thoughts. It is necessary to reconsider and then draw conclusions.

— They took you three minutes to recover from a head injury, and especially at the beginning you clearly felt unwell. What was there?

— An unpleasant blow. I feel like my head is a little uneven now (he strokes himself on the right side of his head closer to the back of his head. — Ed.).

— At that moment, was there no fear that you would have to change?

"What kind of fear?" My head was spinning, I wasn't in the mood for fear. Fear is probably the last thing that should be present in such a match. There were concerns, of course. I was freaking out, angry that I was "swimming" a little, it was too bright in my eyes. But then everything became normal.

— Penalty shootout. Do you see any merit in the mistakes of Eze and Gabriela?

— In the first case, yes. Because he was waiting for my move, I didn't make it. I think he wanted to do it for sure. If he had fallen earlier, he would have changed the angle. In the second case, probably not. I just think he hit the sparrows, that's all. But I guessed the direction and was ready to fight back if anything happened.

"We are analyzing under a microscope what can be done better"

— You have come a very difficult way this season, first beating Luc Chevalier in the fight for the status of PSG's main goalkeeper, and then all your rivals in the Champions League. Do you feel proud of it? And I saw that you talked a lot with Chevalier after the final.

— We have a great team. Naturally, all goalkeepers help each other to become stronger. This is important in the goaltending team, and for me it's generally the norm when it's cohesive enough and everyone is open to helping and prompting each other. And this year we have no exception. Our victory in the Champions League is the result of the work of the whole team and each individual player. I don't want to deprive anyone!

— Did Luis Enrique say anything personal to you after the game?

- no. It's just emotions right now. There's no time for talking, no time for theory, no time for anything. Just emotions, everyone is happy. And I'm tired. Happy, but tired.

— Vitaly Kafanov said that you have changed a lot this year: you have an explosive reaction and you make decisions much faster.

— Vitaly Vitalievich just loves me (smiles). I can't say that I've changed a lot physically. I think that decision—making has changed - I think this is my strong point now. I make the most of the moments in order to save. We analyze under the microscope what can be done better, and I try to become stronger after every game and every training session.

"Thanks to the haters too! What will they say now?"

— Do you have a feeling that you are now an example for the guys from the Krasnodar school, and indeed all football schools in the country, because they saw an absolutely impossible story?

— First of all, there are a lot of good examples in the Krasnodar school who play in the RPL. The guys know that if they work, they will be able to get into the main team. I think this is a task for many there. And for those who don't have enough of this, my story probably shows that you can just start training, they'll find you in a regular school — I actually practiced swimming until I was nine years old — go to football at that age and eventually play in the Champions League final. And win it.

I hope this is a cool example for children. I know that many people supported me, so thank you to everyone who watched and wrote kind words. Thanks to the haters too, haha! What will they say now?

— Did you know that you are the first Russian football player to win the Champions League final by being in the starting line-up?

— Now I know! Thank you so much for saying that!

— Do you have any special feelings about this? After all, you have become the first in 35 years.

—They're normal. I can't say that this is anything special for me. These are my everyday days now — working at the limit of my abilities with the best football players in the world, in the best team in the world. This is the norm for me now. And, of course, we are not going to stop. Today and tomorrow we are happy, and tomorrow we are already preparing for the next season and the next Champions League.