Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper who has become a cornerstone of Manchester City’s back line, still feels the after‑glow of the recent Manchester Derby triumph as he sits in the club’s training complex. While the dramatic winner from Erling Haaland continues to dominate headlines, Donnarumma’s thoughts drift elsewhere.
He remains slightly irritated by the harsh red card shown to Phil Foden earlier in the match, but what truly satisfies him is the way his teammates responded when the odds were stacked against them. A man down, a flurry of adversity, yet City displayed resilience and emerged victorious.
"I loved my team‑mates' performance, it was sublime," Donnarumma told Sky Sports. "The capacity to stay in the game and to react to difficult moments – no one can take that away from us.
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." City entered the match with a perfect record for the season, a rare achievement especially as they head into a long international break. The squad has already felt the impact of losing three pillars of the Guardiola era – Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri – and there have been moments when the side has looked unsettled.
Donnarumma himself admits that, despite an immaculate start to the Enzo Maresca era, there are still lessons to be learned and areas that need refinement. The club’s leadership had originally framed the campaign as a "transition" year, but the goalkeeper is quick to reject that label. "I don't really like the word 'transition,'" he says.
"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 reach the end of the season having won something, or having won nothing. But what's important is having a winning mentality, going out there and trying to win everything we possibly can." That winning mentality is now being championed by a newly‑formed leadership group that includes Donnarumma, defender Ruben Dias, striker Erling Haaland and centre‑back Marc Guehi.
All four have accumulated trophies both at City and elsewhere, and they are charged with setting standards for the newer arrivals such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye. These younger players are expected to make an immediate impact in what the club insists is not a rebuilding season but a continuation of its pursuit of silverware. "We've changed a few players.
A few new ones have arrived," Donnarumma explains. "They're all top players who are used to playing on the biggest stages, dealing with certain situations, and playing in the Premier League. 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." The objectives are crystal clear: compete for every trophy on offer – the Premier League, the Champions League and the two domestic cups. City’s leadership wants to send a strong message that the squad is capable of achieving anything when the collective will is in place.
Yet, according to Donnarumma, there is a formidable obstacle on the road to the Premier League and Champions League titles: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side also began the campaign with a series of league wins and have the psychological edge of having edged City out for the Premier League title last May in the dramatic finale against Bournemouth. The recent documentary on Pep Guardiola highlighted the disappointment felt by City players after that slip‑up, a moment that still resonates with Donnarumma, who had been part of five consecutive league‑winning campaigns before the 2023‑24 season fell short. "It's difficult, but that's football, that's life.
You're not on your own," he reflects. "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 stresses the importance of approaching each fixture with the intention 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." When asked whether City and Arsenal will once again be the two teams battling for the top spot in May, Donnarumma offers a cautious answer.
"I don't know. We're only four games into the season," he says. "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 also highlights the off‑field integration of new signings. Moving to a new city, learning a new language, and adjusting to a different football culture can be daunting, but the club’s support network – from senior players to staff – aims to smooth that transition.
He notes that the newcomers have already shown professionalism in training, quickly picking up the tempo and intensity required in the Premier League. The goalkeeper also touches on the broader vision of the club under Maresca. While the manager inherits a squad that has tasted unprecedented success, his role is to maintain the high standards while injecting fresh ideas. Donnarumma believes that the blend of experienced leaders and hungry newcomers creates a dynamic environment where competition for places drives performance upward.
In summary, Donnarumma’s message to fans and teammates alike is one of confidence, responsibility and relentless ambition. The Manchester City squad, though missing some long‑serving stalwarts, remains a collection of world‑class talent with a shared hunger for trophies. The season may still be in its early stages, but the foundations – leadership, mentality and a clear set of goals – are firmly in place.
As the campaign unfolds, the true test will be whether City can translate this collective resolve into tangible success across all competitions, and whether they can re‑establish their dominance over rivals like Arsenal. The journey ahead promises excitement, challenges, and, if the current mindset holds, a season that could indeed be described as "great."