Gianluigi Donnarumma still feels the after‑glow of Manchester City’s recent derby triumph as he sits in the club’s training complex. While the winning goal scored by Erling Haaland sparked debate and Phil Foden’s early dismissal left a sour taste, the goalkeeper’s mind is on something deeper: the character the squad displayed when they were reduced to ten men and faced adversity.
"I loved my teammates’ performance; it was sublime," Donnarumma told Sky Sports. "The ability to stay in the match, 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 incredible support.
It has a great history, and we must give a lot back to it." City entered the international break with an unbeaten record, a rare feat given the recent departure of several key figures from Pep Guardiola’s golden era – Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri all left the squad. The side has shown flashes of brilliance, yet Donnarumma admits there is still plenty to learn, even after a flawless start to the Enzo Maresca era.
The club’s board and fans expected a "transition" year, but the Italian goalkeeper is reluctant to use that term. "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 with trophies or without any, but what matters is a winning mentality, going out there and trying to win everything we possibly can." A new leadership group has been formed to replace the departed veterans, and Donnarumma sits at its core alongside defender Ruben Dias, striker Erling Haaland and centre‑back Marc Guehi.
All four have lifted trophies at City and elsewhere, giving them the experience needed to steer the squad through this phase. Meanwhile, promising youngsters such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye are being integrated, expected to make an immediate impact in what the club insists is not a rebuilding season but a campaign aimed at silverware. "We’ve changed a few players. A few new ones have arrived," Donnarumma explained.
"They’re all top‑class athletes accustomed 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 making them feel comfortable.
The players already here are helping them a lot. I think we’re going to have a great season." The ambition is clear: to contest every competition on the calendar – the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup – and to finish the campaign with trophies. City’s warning to rivals is that nothing is off the table when it comes to their collective resolve.
Yet, according to Donnarumma, one team currently stands out as the main obstacle to their domestic and European aspirations: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side also began the season with four consecutive league victories before a setback against Brighton, and they enjoyed a psychological boost after edging City out for the Premier League title last May.
The recent Guardiola documentary captured a somber moment when City slipped up at Bournemouth, allowing the Gunners to clinch the championship. Donnarumma, who had been part of five straight league‑winning campaigns before that disappointment, reflected on the feeling. "It’s difficult, but that’s football, that’s life.
You’re not alone," 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." Beyond the immediate challenges, Donnarumma highlighted the importance of nurturing the new arrivals and maintaining a cohesive squad culture. He noted that the leadership quartet – himself, Dias, Haaland and Guehi – regularly meets to discuss standards, address issues and ensure that every player, whether a seasoned international or a debutant, feels integrated.
This collaborative approach aims to preserve the winning ethos that has defined City for the past decade while allowing fresh talent to flourish. The goalkeeper also praised the club’s infrastructure, from the state‑of‑the‑art training facilities to the analytical support staff, which he believes gives City an edge in preparation and recovery. "The resources we have here are world‑class," he said. "When you combine that with the experience of the squad and the hunger of the newcomers, you create a formula that can compete on all fronts." In summary, Donnarumma’s message is one of confidence tempered with realism.
City may have lost some iconic figures, but the blend of seasoned leaders and eager newcomers, backed by a robust club framework, positions them to chase a full set of trophies. The season is still early, and the road ahead will be demanding, yet the Italian’s optimism suggests that Manchester City are far from a transitional phase – they are gearing up for a great season, whatever the final outcome may be.