Error, dumpling, faulty, insufficient … The Parisian public was torn apart after the first leg at the Parc des Princes last Wednesday against Liverpool (0-1). Indeed, Archi dominating, the Parisians had failed to make the Alisson wall bend and had finally been surprised in the last moments on an action of counter perfectly concluded by Harvey Elliott. An easily stopped strike that some observers had judged as a hand of Gianluigi Donnarumma hand. A week later, PSG needed a great feat in Anfield to hope to eliminate the Reds in the round of 16 return and thus spin in quarters of the Champions League. And it's done since Paris won a breathless battle of more than 120 minutes in Anfield Tuesday evening (0-1). Inevitably eagerly awaited, Gianluigi Donnarumma made a huge performance with a total of 12 stops including two attempts pushed during the penalty shootout against Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones. Donnarumma was the Savior of PSG.
Hero of the evening, Gianlugi Donnarumma did not chew his words at the microphone of Sky Italia After the meeting won by PSG: “I am happy with the team's performance because we have been able to suffer, coming here in this stadium is not easy at all, it's always very hard and above all overthrow the defeat of the first leg. We had a big match and I am very happy with the next round. My return to the locker room before the session? I wanted to pee … I joke, I had prepared something with my trainer, it was good to take something back to try to stop some penalties. I see a lot of criticism from journalists, if we can call them like this, who ignore the role of the goalkeeper. In the first leg, we conceded a shot and a goal. It looked like it was my fault, but I always think of smiling, giving the best of myself and working for the team». And the Italian press ignited the performance of the captain of the Nazional.
The total happiness of the Italian press
There Gazzetta dello Sport has released his most beautiful pen to recall the unjust criticism of the French press on Gigio: “Two penalties arrested against Liverpool and PSG in the quarterfinals: criticism of the last months are swept. This is how the French world goes for Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian of PSG, guilty of each goal collected, but who punctually silence everyone, with a smile. Like yesterday, during the match and at the crucial moment of penalties. Like Wembley in 2021, even if it was Anfield. But he was decisive to propel PSG to the quarterfinals, sending Liverpool to him, undisputed leader in the first part of the Champions League and the Premier League». The media Sportmediaset Fleed to the aid of Donnarumma, recalling the exaggeration of criticisms of the first leg: “Gianluigi Donnarumma was therefore on the accused bench, even compared to the great performance of Alisson at the Parc des Princes. Six days later, the Italian goalkeeper took his revenge, on the ground as in the newspapers, Gigio stopped the penalties of Nunez and Jones, proving to be decisive in the qualification of PSG for the quarter -finals».
The daily life of The Repubblica Also recalls – not without nostalgia – exploits in English land from Donnarumma: “History is sometimes repeated. In the form of a tragedy or mockery, but the result is the same. Gianluigi Donnarumma, hero of the final of Euro 2021 against England in Wembley, produced similar exploits in the eighth finish return of the Champions League last night, his stops eliminating Liverpool with penalties and causing Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals. A feat which, added to another similar achieved four years ago with the national team, will remain among the unforgettable moments of its brilliant career. And once again, it is the English who pay the price». THE CORRIERE DELLO SPORT Add: “Donnarumma, after last night's feat in the Champions League, probably changed the mind more than one in France. From Wembley's evening to Anfield, the common thread (like Liverpool) which links the European Italian championship in 2021 to the qualification of PSG for the quarter -finals among the Reds is the high quality of Gigio as a penalty stopper».
The media Calciomercato has not been less dithyrambic concerning the old porter of AC Milan: “Still in England. From Wembley to Anfield, always decisive. Admittedly, the performance in the Euro final as a protagonist against England with penalties arrested against Sancho and Saka, is a page in the history of Italian football, but stop two penalties in Anfield, under Kop, eliminating Liverpool, the number one favorite to win the final, is not much less worth. The Italian number one proves once again that he is one of the best in the world». To conclude, Tuttosport took the opportunity to put a tackle slipped to the French press: “Super Gigio Donnarumma and France bow before the hero of Liverpool.
After receiving unjust and not very generous criticism, the Italian goalkeeper led PSG to the Champions League quarter -finals by arresting two decisive penalties. The answer on the field of a real champion». Always undefeated on a career shooting session, Gianluigi Donnarumma is the great Parisian hero and Italy rubs her hands.
