Safonov’s Rocky Start: Goalkeeper Faces Scrutiny After International stumble
Matvey Safonov’s season has hit a rough patch, and it’s not just on the club scene. After a challenging stint at Paris Saint-Germain, where he found himself behind both Lucas Chevalier and Gianluigi Donnarumma, the 26-year-old goalkeeper’s struggles have followed him to the Russian national team.
During a recent friendly match against Peru in Saint Petersburg, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Safonov was in the spotlight. While Aleksandr Golovin had put the home side ahead in the 18th minute, a late equalizer from Peru’s alex Valera has put Safonov under the microscope.
The goal came from a long shot by Peruvian striker alex Valera. Safonov, seemingly caught off guard, made a handling error, weakly deflecting a shot that ultimately found the back of the net. Russian coach Valeriy karpin addressed the incident post-game, noting, We conceded a goal because Safonov’s leg slipped and he certainly lost his balance.
He added, I’m not an expert but you can see it clearly in slow motion. I think if his leg hadn’t slipped the goal wouldn’t have been scored.
No Immediate Repercussions, But Questions Linger
Despite the costly mistake, Karpin seemed to defend his goalkeeper’s inclusion, suggesting that the friendly nature of the match played a role. If it wasn’t a friendly match, Safonov might not have played,
the coach commented to the press.
Adding to the narrative, Safonov was notably absent from the 27-player roster announced by the Russian Football Union (RFS) for the upcoming friendly against Chile on November 15th. This omission led some to speculate it was a direct result of his performance against Peru.
However, the club has clarified the situation. Sources indicate that Safonov’s participation in the Peru match was pre-arranged, with the understanding that he would only feature in that specific game as part of the coach’s rotation strategy. Therefore, his exclusion from the Chile match is not considered a punishment.
On a personal note, Safonov will be taking a brief respite in Russia. The club has granted him permission to spend a few extra days with his family, including his four-year-old daughter, before returning to France. He is expected to rejoin his teammates to prepare for the Ligue 1 fixture against Le Havre on Saturday, November 22nd.
