Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper who has quickly become a central figure at Manchester City, sat down with Sky Sports shortly after the club’s dramatic Manchester Derby win to reflect on the performance and the direction of the team. While the match featured a contentious last‑minute winner from Erling Haaland and a harsh red card for Phil Foden, Donnarumma chose to focus on the resilience his side displayed.
He praised his teammates for staying composed under pressure and for turning a numerically disadvantaged situation into a victory, describing the display as "sublime" and a testament to the squad's mental strength. "This is who we are. This is our team. This is City," he said, emphasizing the collective identity that underpins the club.
Donnarumma explained that the players' willingness to give everything for the shirt and for a club that offers them immense support is what drives them forward. He highlighted the storied history of Manchester City and the responsibility the current group feels to add to that legacy.
The win came at a time when many pundits expected City to struggle to maintain a perfect record before the upcoming international break. The departure of several key figures from Pep Guardiola's era—Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri—had raised questions about the squad's depth and continuity.
Yet, despite a few unconvincing moments in recent fixtures, the team has shown that it can adapt and thrive even as it integrates new talent. Donnarumma was candid about the notion of a "transition" season.
"I don't really like the word 'transition,'" he admitted. "The club's objective is to win.
This team's objective is to win. We'll certainly give everything we can to achieve that." He stressed that the focus is not on a rebuilding phase but on immediate success across all competitions, including the Premier League, the Champions League, and the domestic cups. A significant development at the Etihad this summer has been the formation of a new leadership group, which replaces the outgoing veterans with a fresh quartet of experienced winners.
Donnarumma now shares the captaincy responsibilities with defender Ruben Dias, striker Erling Haaland and centre‑back Marc Guehi. Each of these players has already lifted trophies at Manchester City and elsewhere, bringing a winning mentality that the younger arrivals can emulate. Speaking about the influx of new signings such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Ilimian Ndiaye, Donnarumma said, "We've changed a few players.
A few new ones have arrived. They're all top players who are used to playing on the biggest stages, dealing with certain situations, and playing in the Premier League.
It's not easy at the beginning when you move to a new club, a new organisation, a new city. But they're adapting well, and we're making them feel comfortable. The players who were already here are helping them a lot. I think we're going to have a great season." The goalkeeper also addressed the broader competitive landscape, naming Arsenal as the primary rival for both league and European glory.
Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, have matched City’s early form with five consecutive wins and have the psychological edge of having edged City out for the Premier League title in the previous season, as documented in the recent Guardiola documentary. Donnarumma reflected on that disappointment, noting that setbacks are part of football and life, and that the presence of other strong teams only heightens the need for consistent effort. "It's difficult, but that's football, that's life. You're not on your own," he said.
"There are other strong teams, especially in the Premier League. It's not that if you don't win there isn't disappointment – of course there is – but it can happen because there are other teams as well, just like in the Champions League.
It's important to go into every game trying to win it. Certainly, our objective will be to win, but there are other teams too.
You have to compete, you have to work, and you have to do everything possible because the history of this club demands it." When asked whether City and Arsenal will once again be the duelling forces at the top when the season reaches its climax in May, Donnarumma replied, "I don't know. We're only four games into the season." He underscored that the immediate priority is to focus on each match, maintain a winning mentality, and let the results speak for themselves. "Our focus right now has to be on working and trying to win every game. That has to be our objective.
Whether we achieve it in the end or not, only time will tell," he concluded. Beyond the tactical and psychological aspects, Donnarumma highlighted the importance of the club's culture and fan support. He praised the City faithful for creating an environment that pushes the players to exceed expectations, and he reiterated his personal commitment to repaying the faith shown in him since joining the club. The upcoming fixtures provide a clear test of the squad's depth and resolve.
City will travel to face Norwich City in the Carabao Cup third round on Thursday night, followed by a Premier League clash with Sunderland on Super Sunday. Both matches will serve as platforms for the new signings to showcase their abilities and for the leadership quartet to reinforce the winning standards expected at Manchester City. In summary, Donnarumma's message is unequivocal: Manchester City are not in a transitional lull; they are a squad built on experience, ambition, and a relentless desire to win. With a blend of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers, guided by a leadership group that embodies the club's trophy‑laden heritage, City aim to compete on all fronts and, if all goes to plan, deliver a season that adds another glorious chapter to their already impressive history.