Liverpool coach Slot praises Donnarumma after PSG-Arsenal heroics: ‘I already knew’

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Peter Young | Last updated May 9, 2025 7:26 AM ET

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says he ‘already knew’ how good Italy no.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma was before his heroics in the Champions League semi-final tie between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal over the last two weeks. ‘That wasn’t a surprise to me’.

The Liverpool head coach gave a glowing review of the four Champions League semi-finalists after the conclusion of the second legs this week, which saw Inter qualify for the final at the expense of Barcelona and PSG at the expense of Arsenal.

Liverpool were eliminated in the round of 16 of this season’s competition by PSG, going out on penalties thanks to saves by Donnarumma on Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones during the shoot-out.

For that reason, Slot claims he ‘already knew’ how good the former Milan stopper is.

Slot also suggests that the standard of the goalkeeping is part of the reason why the aggregate score between PSG and Arsenal finished at 3-1, and not 7-6 like the other semi-final between Inter and Barcelona.

What Slot said about Donnarumma in Liverpool press conference

“A friend of mine said to me, was it that much more entertaining and that much better, or was it because every chance in Inter-Barcelona led to a goal, and then all of a sudden it’s 3-3 or 4-3 and everyone says ‘wow’,” Slot said while discussing the Champions League semi-finals during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“But maybe the same amount of chances were there with Arsenal playing Paris Saint-Germain, but not every chance was a goal because of both goalkeepers.

“I knew already how good Donnarumma was facing him here at Anfield, so that wasn’t a surprise to me. Both games were a joy to watch.”