Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian shot‑stopper for Manchester City, is still riding the high of the recent Manchester Derby win as he sits in the club’s training complex. While the dramatic late winner from Erling Haaland continues to dominate headlines, Donnarumma’s thoughts are elsewhere. He remains slightly irritated by Phil Foden’s harsh red card earlier in the match, but what truly delights him is the resilience his side displayed when they were reduced to ten men and faced a cascade of adverse moments. "I loved my teammates’ performance, it was sublime," Donnarumma told Sky Sports.
"The ability to stay in the game, to respond to tough periods – no one can strip that from us. We will give everything for this shirt, for this club that gives us so much and enjoys such incredible support. It has a rich history, and we must repay that legacy." City entered the derby with a perfect record this campaign, a feat that seemed increasingly fragile as the season progressed, especially after the departure of long‑time stalwarts Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri – the core of Pep Guardiola’s most successful era. Yet, despite a few shaky displays, Donnarumma believes the team is still learning and improving, even in what many have labeled a "transition" season.
"I don’t really like the word ‘transition,’" he said. "The club’s aim is to win. This team’s aim is to win.
We’ll certainly give everything we can to achieve that. We could finish the season with trophies or without any, but what matters is the winning mentality – going out there and trying to win everything we possibly can." That winning mindset is now being championed by a newly‑formed leadership group that replaces the departed veterans. Donnarumma sits alongside Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland and Marc Guehi as the four‑person core that has already collected silverware at City and elsewhere. Their collective experience is expected to guide the newer arrivals – Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye – as they settle into a squad that, according to Donnarumma, is no longer in a rebuilding phase but is instead gearing up for a full‑throttle campaign.
"We’ve changed a few players. A few new ones have arrived," he explained. "They’re all top‑class athletes used to playing on the biggest stages, handling pressure and competing in the Premier League.
It isn’t easy at first when you move to a new club, a new city, a new organisation, but they’re adapting well and we’re doing everything to make them feel comfortable. The players already here are helping them a lot.
I think we’re going to have a great season." The objectives are crystal‑clear: contest every major trophy on offer – the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup – and finish the season with a haul of silverware. City’s leadership quartet is tasked with maintaining high standards and ensuring that the new signings integrate seamlessly, both on and off the pitch. Yet, a formidable obstacle looms in the form of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side also began the campaign with four straight league victories before stumbling against Brighton, and they enjoyed a psychological boost after edging City out for the Premier League title last May.
The recent Guardiola documentary captured the disappointment of City players after a slip‑up at Bournemouth handed the title to the Gunners, a moment that still resonates with Donnarumma, who had been part of five consecutive league‑winning squads before that setback. "It’s difficult, but that’s football, that’s life. You’re not alone," he reflected on the disappointment. "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 dominant forces battling for the top spot in May, Donnarumma admitted uncertainty. "I don’t know.
We’re only four games into the season," he said, emphasizing that it is too early to predict the final standings. What is certain, however, is the immediate focus: work hard, maintain consistency, and aim to win every match. "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. In summary, Donnarumma’s message is one of confidence and ambition.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by player turnover and fierce competition, he insists that Manchester City are not in a period of transition but are instead poised for a season of high expectations. The blend of seasoned leaders and promising newcomers, guided by a collective desire to honour the club’s illustrious past, sets the stage for what could be a memorable campaign in all competitions.