Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed admiration for Italy`s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma following his stellar performance in Paris Saint-Germain`s Champions League semi-final victory against Arsenal. Slot remarked that Donnarumma`s exceptional display came as no surprise to him, given his prior experience facing the goalkeeper.
The Dutch coach offered a positive assessment of all four Champions League semi-finalists after the conclusion of the second leg matches. These games saw Inter Milan and PSG advance to the final, defeating Barcelona and Arsenal respectively.
Liverpool`s own Champions League journey ended in the round of 16 this season, with PSG eliminating them on penalties. Donnarumma played a crucial role in that match, saving shots from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones during the shootout.
Slot highlighted the impact of strong goalkeeping performances on match outcomes. He suggested that the relatively low-scoring affair between PSG and Arsenal (3-1 on aggregate) compared to the high-scoring Inter-Barcelona tie (7-6 on aggregate) was largely due to the excellent goalkeeping on display.
“I was already aware of Donnarumma`s capabilities from our encounter at Anfield, so his performance didn`t come as a shock to me,” Slot stated during a press conference. He added that both semi-final matches were highly entertaining to watch.
The Liverpool manager`s comments underscore the significant influence that top-tier goalkeepers like Donnarumma can have on the outcomes of crucial matches, particularly in high-stakes competitions like the Champions League.