How Gianluigi Donnarumma’s performances in goal are key to PSG’s Champions League dream

PSG -goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma delivered a huge achievement in the 1-0 away victory against Arsenal In the first stage of the UEFA Champions League semi -finals on Tuesday evening. The Italian keeper was central to several discussions in recent years, because many were divided between the potential of the former AC Milan player. When some think he is a world -class goalkeeper, others believe at the same time that he cannot deliver, especially in some important games, as it happened in the past seasons.

However, his performances this season, especially in the big nights of the Champions League for PSG, prove that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and the French side may help to help their first UEFA Champions League ever win if they can keep the benefit in the second stage in Paris next week. If PSG makes it, much of the credit has to go to the Italian keeper, who probably lives the best moment of his career, and there are also great opportunities to see him in the top 10 of the next balloon d’Or, especially if PSG wins the big European trophy.

After making his professional debut in the Italian Serie A on 16-year-old old with AC Milan, Donnarumma left the Italian team in the summer of 2021 as a free agent a few weeks before he won the UEFA 2020 euros with Italy in the final against England in Wemkayo Saka, where the Italian goalkeeper was the hero of the Sakaa. That was a decisive moment in his career, but since then he had a number of ups and downs, especially those in the Champions League round of 16 against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu in his first season at PSG. The criticism was picked up, but Donnarumma knew that his time had to come.

PSG has undergone many changes, in the team and in the coaching staff. World class stars such as Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. And Kylian Mbappe all left the team in recent years, but Donnarumma always decided to stay in the club who wanted him the most after the contract of his AC Milan ended. Former PSG director Leonardo, who previously worked with Donnarumma at AC Milan, was the one who also wanted to sign him thanks to the help of the agent Mino Raiola of his friend and player. Going to PSG was not the easiest decision to make a young player, because Donnarumma was only 22 years old when he left the Italian giants. The majority of the AC Milan Fanbase did not like the way in which he left, as a free agent, but the Italian player always turned out to be stronger and experienced much more than the criticism surrounded by him.

When the current director Luis Campos was appointed by PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi, he never had a doubt about the Donnarumma project and wanted him to become even more important in the dressing room. Gigio understood that he started working harder and this season shows that he has much more confidence in the role he has. In all the important Champions League matches of the season, he was one of the best players, with only a few errors throughout the season. In the second stage against Liverpool, in the Champions League round of 16, he saved two important penalties on Anfield. Against Aston Villa, in the second stage of the quarterfinals, three crucial rescues PSG helped to qualify for the last four, and then against Arsenal in the Emiraten-one important performance that helped the side of the Luis Enrique to have the advantage of one goal for the return bone. If PSG triumph in Europe this season, the contributions of Donnarumma will be a cornerstone of their success.