Wednesday evening, returning to the qualification of PSG in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after its draw against Barcelona, ​​the consultants of Europe 1 praised the performance of goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Author of countless saves in the first period, the Costa Rican kept his afloat and avoided reviving the specter of the comeback of 2017.  

DECRYPTION

His teammates owe him a debt of gratitude.

In a team paralyzed and manhandled by domineering Barcelona, ​​goalkeeper Keylor Navas was the man of the match on the Parisian side and the great architect of qualification for the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Multiplying rescues, he pushed back no less than 9 shots on target in the first period, ahead of Dembélé (11th, 18th), Dest (23rd), or even Busquets (40th).

And by stopping a Messi penalty just before half-time, the Costa Rican changed the face of the match, while the 2017 comeback was still in everyone's mind.

A performance that dazzled the consultants of Europe 1, who insist on his role as leader within the club.

"It is sub-side"

"It is difficult to be better," admits the demanding Guy Roux, the former coach of AJ Auxerre, confident to be surprised by the level displayed by the defector from Real Madrid since his arrival in the capital.

"He makes zero mistakes and great feats," he adds. 

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"It is undercut. Level value for money, it is the coup of the century", abounds the journalist Nabil Djellit, who insists on the importance of the arrival of Navas to a position where the PSG has long struggled to replace Sirigu, neither Trapp nor Areola having really succeeded in winning. 

"It brings serenity"

For Laurent Fournier, former coach of PSG, Keylor Navas is one of the goalkeepers "who make you gain points and competitions", and "he is putting PSG on the right track".

In Ligue 1, he continues, "when Rico plays PSG loses when it's Navas, PSG wins". 

"He's a real leader," said former player Jimmy Algerino, both on the pitch and in the locker room.

A leadership that the club badly needs, between the youth of Mbappé, and the multiple absences of Neymar.

A point of view shared by Nabil Djellit, who emphasizes that Navas "brings serenity".

Since his arrival, he notes, "PSG has taken a step forward".

For the journalist, even more than victory, the goalkeeper saved his club from being caught by his old demons.

"He saved PSG from a comeback," he said.