Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper 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 match’s controversial finish – Erling Haaland’s late winner – continues to spark debate, Donnarumma’s thoughts are focused elsewhere.
He expressed particular frustration over Phil Foden’s harsh red card earlier in the game, but his main satisfaction stems from the way his side responded when they were reduced to ten men. "I loved my teammates' performance, it was sublime," Donnarumma told Sky Sports. "The ability to stay in the contest, to react to the toughest 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 great support. It has a magnificent history, and we have to give a lot back to it." The victory helped City preserve a perfect record at the start of the campaign, a feat that looks increasingly fragile as the international break looms and the squad has already seen the departure of several stalwarts from the Pep Guardiola era – namely Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri. Despite a flawless opening run, Donnarumma admitted the team still has areas to improve, even as they embark on what many have labelled a "transition" season under new manager Enzo Maresca. "I don’t really like the word ‘transition,’" he said.
"The club’s objective is to win. This team’s objective is to win.
We’ll certainly give everything we can to achieve that. 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." A key component of that mentality is the newly‑formed leadership group that Donnarumma now heads alongside defender Ruben Dias, striker Erling Haaland and centre‑back Marc Guehi. All four have accumulated trophies both at City and elsewhere, giving them a shared experience of success that the club hopes will filter down to the newer faces. The squad has indeed welcomed several fresh arrivals – Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye among them – who are expected to make an immediate impact in what the club insists is not a rebuilding year but a campaign aimed at adding more silverware.
Donnarumma highlighted the importance of integrating these players smoothly. "We’ve changed a few players.
A few new ones have arrived. They’re all top‑class athletes used to playing on the biggest stages, dealing with pressure and thriving in the Premier League. It’s not 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 who were already here are helping them a lot.
I think we’re going to have a great season." He went on to outline the club’s ambitions: "The objective is to get to the end and compete for everything there is to compete for – the Premier League, the Champions League and the two domestic cups." This statement serves as a clear warning to rivals that City intend to fight on all fronts. One opponent that looms large in Donnarumma’s mind is Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side also began the season with four straight league wins before stumbling against Brighton, and they carry the psychological edge of having edged City out for the Premier League title last May. The recent Guardiola documentary revealed the disappointment that fell over the squad after a slip‑up at Bournemouth handed the Gunners the trophy, a moment that still haunts players like Donnarumma, who had enjoyed five consecutive league titles before that loss. "It’s difficult, but that’s football, that’s life.
You’re not alone," he reflected on that 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 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 said, before emphasizing 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 tactical and psychological aspects, Donnarumma’s comments also hint at a broader cultural shift within the club. The leadership quartet’s emphasis on experience, professionalism and mentorship aims to forge a cohesive unit that can handle the pressures of multiple competitions. By welcoming new talent, providing them with guidance from seasoned internationals, and maintaining a relentless pursuit of victory, City hope to transform any notion of a "transition" into a narrative of continuity and dominance. In summary, Donnarumma’s message is clear: Manchester City are not in a rebuilding phase; they are a club with a winning DNA that expects to add more trophies to its illustrious cabinet.
The blend of veteran leadership and fresh talent, coupled with an unwavering commitment to compete on every front, sets the stage for what could be a memorable season for the Sky Blues. The real test will come as the campaign progresses, but the goalkeeper’s confidence and the collective ambition of the squad suggest that City are prepared to fight for every piece of silverware on offer.