Matvey Safonov wants the Paris Saint-Germain squad to be calm ahead of the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest next week.
PSG made it into back-to-back finals after defeating Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semi-finals and will take on Arsenal.
Luis Enrique’s side ended the Ligue 1 season last Sunday as champions, and will now have an extended period of rest which Safonov sees as beneficial for the team.
“Of course, everyone’s thinking about the final and the next ten days will be very interesting,” the Russian goalkeeper told the club website.
“But I think we also need to stay calm. We need to find a way to stay focused on the match, but also remain composed during our preparations.
“We must carry on working as usual while making the most of this extra time to prepare for this very important match.
“I think it’s a good thing to have had two weeks between our last match and this final because it allows us to be more relaxed.
“We can stay grounded, and that’s very important. Winning the league is also a huge boost because it means we can approach this final in a very positive frame of mind. I hope that after these ten days we’ll be 100% ready.”
Safonov on most memorable Champions League moment
The 27-year-old has been the preferred goalkeeper over Lucas Chevalier, who picked up a muscle injury late last month.
He kept in the two-legged semi-final against Bayern, and considered it an “incredible experience”.
“It’s hard to pick just one moment because this Champions League campaign has been incredible. But I’d say the first leg of the semi-final against Bayern,” he added.
“It was an incredible experience. I hope to experience more matches like that in my career. I’ll cherish that memory for a long time.”
Safonov has made a total of 26 appearances in all competitions this season, including 10 in the Champions League. He has kept a total of 12 clean sheets, with four of them in Europe.
