Gianluigi Donnarumma still feels the afterglow of Manchester City’s recent derby triumph as he sits in the club’s training complex, reflecting on the performance that secured the win. While the controversy surrounding Erling Haaland’s last‑minute goal and the harsh red card shown to Phil Foden still linger in the post‑match chatter, Donnarumma’s focus is elsewhere. He is proud of how his teammates responded when they were reduced to ten men and faced a series of setbacks, yet still managed to prevail.
"I loved my team‑mates' performance, it was sublime," the Italian goalkeeper told Sky Sports. "The capacity to stay in the game and to react to difficult moments – no one can take that away from us." He went on to stress the deep bond between the players and the badge they wear. "We will give everything for this shirt, for this club that gives us so much and offers us so much great support.
It has a great history, and we need to give a lot back to it," he said. City entered the international break with an unbeaten record, a rare feat after the departure of several stalwarts from Pep Guardiola’s long‑running era – namely Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri. The loss of such key figures raised questions about the team’s continuity, but Donnarumma insists that the notion of a "transition" season is misleading. "I don't really like the word 'transition,'" he explained.
"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 added that the season could end either with trophies or with nothing at all, but what truly matters is the mindset that drives the squad. "Having a winning mentality, going out there and trying to win everything we possibly can, is what matters most," Donnarumma affirmed.
The goalkeeper now sits on a newly‑formed leadership panel that replaces the departed veterans. Alongside Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland and Marc Guehi, he forms a quartet of experienced players who have all lifted silverware at City and elsewhere. Their collective experience is intended to guide the newer arrivals – Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye – as they settle into a side that, according to Donnarumma, is no longer in a rebuilding phase but is aiming straight for the top. "We've changed a few players.
A few new ones have arrived," Donnarumma noted. "They're all top players who are used to playing on the biggest stages, dealing with certain situations, and playing in the Premier League." He acknowledged the challenges that accompany a move to a new club, a new city and a new organisational culture, but praised the rapid adaptation of the newcomers. "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," he said.
The objectives, according to Donnarumma, are crystal clear: compete for every piece of silverware on offer – the Premier League, the Champions League and the two domestic cups. He warned that City will not take any opponent lightly, especially Arsenal, who have already demonstrated they can challenge for the title after a strong start to the campaign. Mikel Arteta’s side, having begun the season with four straight league victories before a slip‑up against Brighton, also enjoy the psychological edge of having edged City out of the Premier League title race last May. The recent documentary on Guardiola captured the disappointment of City players after a costly loss to Bournemouth that handed the league to the Gunners.
Donnarumma, who collected the league crown in each of the previous five seasons before that disappointment, recalled the feeling of being let down. "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 stressed the importance of approaching every match with a winning intention. "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 explained.
When asked whether City and Arsenal will again be the two teams battling for the league crown in May, the goalkeeper shrugged. "I don't know. We're only four games into the season," he admitted, reminding everyone that the season is still in its infancy. Nevertheless, he believes the foundation has been laid.
"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. The message from the club is unmistakable: with a blend of seasoned leaders, fresh talent and an unwavering desire to win, Manchester City intend to make the upcoming months a showcase of ambition and achievement, regardless of the challenges that lie ahead.