Gianluigi Donnarumma was still riding the high of Manchester City’s recent Manchester Derby triumph when he sat down at the club’s training complex for an interview with Sky Sports. The Italian goalkeeper, who has become an integral part of the City back line, chose to focus less on the dramatic last‑minute winner from Erling Haaland and more on the collective spirit his teammates displayed, especially after the controversial red card shown to Phil Foden earlier in the match. "This is who we are. This is our team.
This is City," Donnarumma began, his voice calm but clearly proud. He praised the squad for staying composed when they were reduced to ten men and for overcoming a series of setbacks that could have easily tipped the balance in favour of their rivals. "I loved my teammates' performance, it was sublime.
The ability to stay in the game, to react to difficult moments – nobody can take that away from us," he told the reporter. He went on to stress the deep sense of responsibility he feels wearing the famous sky‑blue shirt. "We will give everything for this shirt, for this club that gives us so much and offers us such great support.
It has a great history, and we need to give a lot back to it," he said, underscoring the mutual loyalty between the players and the institution. City entered the derby with a perfect record for the season, a feat that seemed increasingly fragile after the summer departure of several key figures from Pep Guardiola’s era – notably Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri. Yet Donnarumma reminded fans that the club’s ambition has never been about a simple rebuilding phase. "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." The goalkeeper also highlighted the importance of a winning mentality, whether the campaign ends in silverware or not. "We could reach the end of the season having won something, or having won nothing. But what matters is having a winning mentality, going out there and trying to win everything we possibly can," he asserted.
This mindset, he explained, is being reinforced by a newly‑formed leadership group that replaces the departed veterans. Donnarumma now sits alongside Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland and Marc Guehi as part of a core of experienced winners who have lifted trophies both at City and elsewhere. As the club integrates fresh faces such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye, Donnarumma believes the new arrivals are already making an impact.
"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 pressure and thriving in the Premier League," he said.
He acknowledged the challenges of moving to a new city and a new organisation, but praised the existing squad for helping the newcomers settle quickly. "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 added. Looking ahead, Donnarumma outlined the club’s ambitions across all competitions. "The objective is to get to the end and compete for everything there is to compete for – in addition to the Premier League, there's the Champions League and the two domestic cups," he explained. This declaration serves as a clear warning to rivals that City still view themselves as title contenders despite the roster changes.
One particular adversary looms large in Donnarumma’s mind: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side also opened the season with five straight victories and recently enjoyed the psychological boost of edging City out of the Premier League title race last May, a disappointment captured in the recent Guardiola documentary. Donnarumma, who had collected the league crown in each of the five seasons preceding that loss, reflected on the sting of that 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." He emphasized that every match must be approached with the intent 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," Donnarumma asserted. When asked whether City and Arsenal will be the two clubs battling for the top spot when May arrives, the goalkeeper shrugged.
"I don’t know. We’re only four games into the season," he replied. Nonetheless, he reiterated the immediate focus: "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 Premier League, City also have upcoming fixtures in the Carabao Cup and the league that will test the depth of the squad. Fans can look forward to a third‑round Carabao Cup clash against Norwich City on Thursday evening at 8 p.m., followed by a Premier League showdown with Sunderland on Super Sunday, kicking off at 2 p.m. These matches will provide further opportunities for the new signings to prove their worth and for the leadership quartet to embed a culture of resilience and ambition throughout the dressing room.
In summary, Donnarumma paints a picture of a Manchester City side that refuses to be labelled a transitional outfit. With a blend of seasoned winners and hungry newcomers, a clear leadership hierarchy, and an unwavering commitment to a winning mentality, the club aims to challenge for every trophy on offer. The season is still young, but the message from the Italian goalkeeper is unmistakable: City will fight for every point, every cup, and every chance to add another chapter to the storied history of the club.