Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi spoke on Tuesday about the importance of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as the club prepares for the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg against Arsenal. PSG holds a one-goal advantage heading into the match on Wednesday night.
Achraf Hakimi highlighted Donnarumma's status among top goalkeepers and expressed the team's trust in him. He noted that having a goalkeeper of Donnarumma's skill provides reassurance to the squad during games. Achraf Hakimi spoke to the media in anticipation of the contest.
Both clubs enter the European fixture following defeats in their respective domestic leagues over the weekend. PSG lost 2-1 to RC Strasbourg, marking their second consecutive loss in league play.
Arsenal also suffered a 2-1 home defeat, falling to Bournemouth. They initially took a lead before conceding two goals in the second half.
The outcome of the second leg will determine which team advances to the Champions League final. PSG's defensive effort, including the performance of Gianluigi Donnarumma, will be under scrutiny as they aim to protect their lead.
Maintaining a clean sheet or limiting Arsenal's scoring opportunities will be central to PSG's strategy to secure advancement in the competition.
"Gigio is one of the best goalkeepers in the world," Achraf Hakimi said. "We have great confidence in him. Some people have doubted him, but not us. We've always supported him. Having a goalkeeper of his calibre gives us a lot of peace of mind in matches."
