Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian custodian who recently joined Manchester City, was still riding the high of the Manchester Derby win when he sat down for a chat at the club's training complex. The goalkeeper, who has quickly become a vocal leader in the squad, didn’t focus on Erling Haaland’s contentious late winner, nor did he dwell on Phil Foden’s harsh red card earlier in the match.
Instead, he praised the collective resolve his teammates showed when they were reduced to ten men and faced a series of setbacks, yet still managed to secure the three points. "I loved my teammates' performance, it was sublime," Donnarumma told Sky Sports. "The ability to stay in the game, to respond to difficult moments – nobody can take that away from us.
We will give everything for this shirt, for this club that gives us so much and enjoys such massive support. It has a great history, and we need to give a lot back to it." The victory was especially sweet because City entered the derby with a perfect record this season and were about to head into a long international break. The team had already lost three key figures from the Guardiola era – Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri – which raised questions about whether the side could maintain its dominance without those pillars. Yet, as Donnarumma noted, the season was never meant to be a quiet rebuilding year; it was always intended to be a continuation of the club's ambition to win trophies.
"I don’t really like the word ‘transition,’" he added. "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 emphasized that the mindset at City is about striving for success in every competition – the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup – rather than simply preserving an unbeaten run.
"We could finish the season having won something, or having won nothing. What matters is a winning mentality, going out there and trying to win everything we possibly can," he said.
Donnarumma is now part of a newly‑formed leadership group that replaces the departing veterans. He sits alongside centre‑back Ruben Dias, striker Erling Haaland and defender Marc Guehi. All four have already lifted major trophies at City or elsewhere, giving them credibility and experience to guide the newer arrivals.
Young talents such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Ilimian Ndiaye are expected to make an immediate impact, and the senior quartet will be tasked with setting standards and maintaining the high‑performance culture. "We’ve changed a few players.
A few new ones have arrived," Donnarumma explained. "They’re all top players who are used to playing on the biggest stages, dealing with pressure, and adapting to the Premier League.
It’s not easy at the beginning when you move to a new club, a new city, a new organisation, 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 highlighted the club’s broader objectives.
Beyond the league, City will be aiming for the Champions League title and will try to add both domestic cups to their trophy cabinet. This ambition sends a clear signal to rivals that City still consider themselves the benchmark in English football. One of the main obstacles to that ambition, according to Donnarumma, is Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side also began the campaign with five straight victories and recently enjoyed the psychological boost of edging City out for the Premier League trophy last May in a dramatic finale. The recent documentary about Pep Guardiola’s tenure captured the disappointment of City players after a slip‑up at Bournemouth that handed the title to the Gunners.
Donnarumma, who was part of the squad that won the league five consecutive times before that loss, reflected on the experience. "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 two clubs battling for the top spot in May, Donnarumma was cautious. "I don’t know. We’re only four games into the season," he admitted.
"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." The goalkeeper’s comments also hinted at the broader cultural shift within the squad. The leadership group is not just about on‑field performance; it’s about creating an environment where new signings feel integrated and veteran players continue to push the standards higher. This approach mirrors the club’s philosophy under the new management team, which aims to blend experience with youthful exuberance.
City’s upcoming fixtures will test this resolve. They 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 provide opportunities for the squad to cement their winning mentality and for the new leaders to demonstrate their influence. In summary, Donnarumma’s message to fans and opponents alike is clear: Manchester City are not in a period of transition; they are in a phase of sustained ambition. The club’s history, the quality of its leadership group, and the depth of its squad all point toward a season where the focus will be on competing for every trophy on offer.
The challenge will be to translate that mindset into results, especially against rivals like Arsenal who have proven they can disrupt City’s dominance. As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on the Sky Blues to see whether they can live up to the lofty expectations set by their own players and by the legacy of the club itself.