Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper who has quickly become a vocal leader at Manchester City, recently reflected on the team’s identity and ambitions after their dramatic Manchester Derby win. "This is who we are. This is our team.
This is City," he declared, underscoring the sense of unity and purpose that pervades the squad. Even though the match featured a contentious late winner from Erling Haaland and a harsh red card for Phil Foden, Donnarumma’s focus was not on the controversy.
Instead, he praised his teammates for their resilience in a game where they were reduced to ten men and faced several adverse moments. "I loved my teammates' performance, it was sublime," he told Sky Sports. "The ability to stay in the contest and respond to difficult periods – no one can take that away from us." He added that every player is driven by a deep sense of duty to the club’s shirt and its massive fan base.
"We will give everything for this shirt, for this club that gives us so much and offers us such great support. It has a rich history, and we need to give a lot back to it," Donnarumma said, emphasizing the mutual responsibility between the club and its players. City entered the international break with an unbeaten record, a rare feat in a season that has already seen the departure of several stalwarts from Pep Guardiola’s era, including Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri.
While the team has shown flashes of brilliance, Donnarumma admitted there are still areas that require improvement. "I don’t really like the word ‘transition,’" he remarked.
"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 a winning mentality is essential, regardless of whether the season ends in triumph or disappointment. "We could reach the end of the season having won something, or having won nothing. But what matters is having a winning mindset, going out there and trying to win everything we possibly can," he explained.
A key element of that mindset is the newly‑formed leadership group, which now includes Donnarumma, defender Ruben Dias, striker Erling Haaland and centre‑back Marc Guehi. All four have extensive experience of lifting trophies at City and elsewhere, and they are tasked with setting standards for the newer arrivals such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye. Donnarumma highlighted how the veterans are helping the newcomers settle into a new city, a new club and the pressures of 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," he said.
The goalkeeper believes the squad’s depth and quality will allow City to compete on all fronts – the Premier League, the Champions League and both domestic cups. "The objective is to get to the end and compete for everything there is to compete for," he affirmed. Nevertheless, a formidable obstacle stands in the way of City’s ambitions: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side also began the campaign with five straight victories and have the psychological edge of having edged City out for the Premier League title in May of the previous season.
The recent documentary on Pep Guardiola captured the disappointment of City players after a slip‑up at Bournemouth that handed the Gunners the trophy, a moment that still resonates with Donnarumma, who had been part of five consecutive league‑winning campaigns. He acknowledged that setbacks are part of football and life. "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." Donnarumma’s message to his teammates is clear: every match must be approached with the intention to win. "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," he asserted. When asked whether City and Arsenal will once again be the two clubs battling for the top spot in May, the goalkeeper replied candidly, "I don’t know. We’re only four games into the season." He reminded everyone that the focus must remain on the present.
"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." Beyond the league, City fans can look forward to upcoming fixtures that will test the squad’s depth. The Carabao Cup third‑round tie against Norwich City is scheduled for Thursday night at 8 p.m., followed by a Premier League showdown with Sunderland on Super Sunday, with kick‑off at 2 p.m.
These matches will provide further opportunities for the new leadership group to cement their influence and for the newer players to showcase their talent on the big stage. In summary, Donnarumma’s comments paint a picture of a Manchester City side that refuses to be labeled as merely “in transition.” Instead, the club is positioning itself as a relentless contender, driven by a collective desire to honor its storied past while forging a future filled with silverware.
The blend of seasoned leaders and fresh talent, combined with a clear, win‑or‑nothing mentality, suggests that City’s upcoming season could indeed be one of the most compelling chapters in the club’s modern history.