Safonov reveals how Luis Enrique transformed him

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·9 September 2026

Safonov reveals how Luis Enrique transformed him

At 27, Matvey Safonov, Paris Saint-Germain’s goalkeeper, still has an undiminished desire to improve and establish himself for the long term. In an interview with Le Parisien, the Russian keeper looks back on his integration, his daily work, the influence of Luis Enrique, and that obsession with detail that fuels his development.

Safonov: “Paris is inseparable from the Arc de Triomphe”

“My favorite monument is the Arc de Triomphe. I caught my first glimpse of it on the day I signed my contract. I was sitting in the back of a van, eyes fixed on my phone, and when I looked up, I saw it. It was simply magnificent. I was immediately struck by its scale and majesty. Since that day, for me, Paris has been inseparable from the Arc de Triomphe. I don’t live far away, and it has become a reassuring landmark. In spring, I love going up to the top. The vertical view over the city, with the trees and avenues stretching out in straight lines in every direction, is incredible. For me, it’s the most beautiful square in Paris.”

Two years after his arrival, Safonov no longer speaks of Paris as just a professional stopover. The Russian goalkeeper has found his bearings in the capital and now seems fully settled into his new environment. That personal integration has gone hand in hand with his development at PSG.

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Safonov: “Learning French has become my main hobby”

“Learning French has become my main hobby, and at the same time I’m continuing to improve my English. During my last vacation, I packed in lots of activities and lessons. Foreign languages make things so much easier. I often send a message to my teachers to arrange a lesson from one day to the next depending on my availability. My goal of becoming completely bilingual? I think it’s impossible to speak a foreign language perfectly. For me, the greatest difficulty lies in distinguishing between masculine and feminine. Using ‘le’ and ‘la’ is a constant challenge because in Russian, genders are often reversed. On the other hand, the difference between ‘un’ and ‘une’ remains a mystery. When I go to the bakery, to avoid getting ‘un’ or ‘une’ baguette wrong, I just say: ‘I’ll take two!’ It’s much easier (laughs).”

This commitment shows a desire to go far beyond the work done strictly at the PSG Campus. Safonov is looking to improve in every area that can make his daily life easier and help him integrate into the group.

Safonov: “Speaking the local language is a matter of respect”

“I’ve lived here for two years and, for me, taking French lessons is a mark of respect. When a foreigner arrives in a new country, speaking the local language is a matter of respect toward the city that welcomes him, but also toward Paris Saint-Germain.”

For a goalkeeper, mastering the language also has an obvious sporting benefit. Safonov must constantly communicate with his defense and pass on information quickly. So his learning French contributes both to his personal integration and to his progress within the Parisian team.

Safonov: “You have to reinvent yourself in every training session”

“I watch a lot of goalkeepers and draw inspiration from everyone. For me, the ideal goalkeeper isn’t just one person but several. It’s impossible to name the best goalkeeper in history because football is constantly evolving: the game is getting faster, attackers are improving, the rules change every year. Nothing is fixed; you have to reinvent yourself in every training session.”

This constant search fits particularly well with the demands of the position at PSG. Under Luis Enrique, the goalkeeper is no longer expected only to stop shots: his footwork, his reading of space, and his ability to take part in the first phase of build-up are hugely important. Safonov therefore embraces the idea that his game must keep evolving.

Safonov: “PSG offered me new energy”

“I’m very lucky to have crossed paths with him at that precise moment in my career. I needed it. I was starting to feel a certain stagnation in my development. That’s when PSG came forward, offering me new energy and fantastic prospects for growth. Luis Enrique has given me a tremendous amount.”

Choosing PSG therefore looks like a real turning point in the Russian’s career. Safonov does not present his arrival in Paris simply as a step up in sporting terms: above all, he talks about the chance to reignite progress that he himself felt had slowed down.

Safonov: “My first season was very eventful”

“My first season was very eventful. It’s rare for a backup to play 17 official matches. It was an excellent experience. The second year was different but just as rewarding.”

Despite a status that did not guarantee him a starting place, Safonov quickly earned playing time. That first season allowed him to discover the Parisian demands before facing a much more difficult situation in the following campaign.

Safonov: “I put in a colossal amount of work”

“I put in a colossal amount of work. Psychologically, it was difficult because the club signed a new goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier, who started as first choice. I stayed on the bench for three or four months, around twenty matches. Then the situation turned around.”

It is probably during this period that Safonov’s mindset comes through most clearly. Relegated to the bench for several months, the goalkeeper did not give up. On the contrary, he emphasizes the amount of work he put in before the hierarchy eventually changed.

Safonov: “Without Luis Enrique, you wouldn’t have the same goalkeeper”

“These last two years have been crucial: I have changed profoundly psychologically, physically and tactically. Without Luis Enrique, you wouldn’t have the same goalkeeper in front of you today.”

The tribute paid to Luis Enrique is particularly strong. Safonov now sees his time under the Spaniard as decisive in his transformation. It is progress he does not limit to the pitch either, since he stresses his mental development just as much as his physical and tactical evolution.

Safonov: “Above all, it’s a psychological battle”

“Above all, it’s a psychological battle. These days, with video, everyone analyzes everything. I spend a lot of time breaking down attackers’ habits. It’s no secret anymore—people have seen a lot of my famous towel where I write down all my notes on penalty takers.”

Here Safonov confirms just how important preparation is in his approach to penalties. His success is not based only on instinct: the Parisian goalkeeper tries to gather as much information as possible to anticipate the taker’s choice as well as he can.

Safonov: “For me, it’s not a chore, it’s a game”

“Do I like this exercise? Very much. For me, it’s not a chore, it’s a game, and I find it fascinating. In Russia, I sometimes used to ask attackers afterward where they had planned to shoot. It was a kind of mental exercise I did with players I was close to. It’s very interesting for checking whether your reading of the game was right.”

This curiosity ultimately sums up Safonov’s message quite well. Whether it is languages, his game, or studying penalties, the goalkeeper is constantly trying to understand and improve. That desire also explains why he presents his two years at Paris Saint-Germain as such an important period in his career.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.