Paris Saint-Germain’s Intercontinental Cup victory was sealed in dramatic fashion, and the reactions that followed said it all. From the players on the pitch to club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, one name was on everyone’s lips: Matvey Safonov.
“We Told Him Thank You” – Nuno Mendes
Speaking shortly after the final, Nuno Mendes summed up the mood in the PSG dressing room with a smile:
“We told him thank you!”
A simple phrase, but one that perfectly captured what Safonov’s penalty-shootout heroics meant to his teammates. Four saves, one trophy, and a goalkeeper instantly written into PSG history.
Al-Khelaïfi: “Six Titles, That’s History”
In the mixed zone, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi struggled to hide his pride after PSG completed a historic sextuple:
“We started the year here with a trophy (the European Super Cup), and we finish the year here with another one. It’s magnificent. Six titles — that’s history for the club, for France, for our supporters, for Paris.”
The PSG president was keen to underline the collective nature of the achievement:
“We have a team of warriors, an incredible coach, a great sporting advisor, the staff, and the best supporters. We are really very happy, really proud.”
Winning in Qatar, home of the club’s main shareholder, carried extra significance:
“Winning here in Qatar is something special.”
And on Safonov’s unforgettable performance:
“Safonov? It’s magnificent. We have two goalkeepers of a very high level. Stopping four penalties — that’s something extraordinary.”
Asked about potential recruitment, Al-Khelaïfi smiled and deflected:
“That, I’ll leave to you. I’ll let people talk.”
Zaïre-Emery: “The Collective Comes First”
On the pitch, Warren Zaïre-Emery once again showed maturity well beyond his years. Speaking to beIN Sports, the PSG midfielder highlighted the mindset instilled by Luis Enrique:
“We had a very clear objective: we came here to win. The coach told us not to give up, to play like we always do.”
Despite Flamengo’s intensity, Zaïre-Emery felt PSG delivered:
“We played a very good match, a very good final, against a team that brought a lot of intensity.”
The young Parisian also emphasized the club’s collective identity:
“This team has a lot of character. We are a collective. When the coach arrived, that’s what he wanted — the team first. He transmitted that to us.”
Deployed once again at right-back, a role he continues to grow into, Zaïre-Emery remained ambitious:
“I’m happy with my performance, but there’s a huge margin for improvement. This is only the beginning of the season — the most important part is coming.”
One Night, One Hero, One Collective
From the locker room to the boardroom, PSG’s message was clear: this victory was built on unity — but defined by an exceptional individual performance. Safonov’s night in Doha will be remembered for a long time, not only for the saves, but for what they symbolized: a team ready to fight together until the very end.
