Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper for Manchester City, is still riding the high of the recent Manchester Derby triumph as he sits in the club's training complex. While many fans are still debating the controversial late winner scored by Erling Haaland, Donnarumma’s focus lies elsewhere. He expressed particular irritation over the harsh red card shown to Phil Foden during the same match, but overall he was delighted by the way his teammates responded when the odds were stacked against them.
"I loved my teammates' performance; it was sublime," Donnarumma told Sky Sports. "The ability to stay in the game, to react to difficult moments and to keep fighting – no one can take that away from us. We give everything for this shirt, for this club that gives us so much support and has such a great history. We have to give a lot back to it." The victory came at a time when few expected City to maintain a perfect record heading into the long international break.
The team had already lost three pillars of the Guardiola era – Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri – and many observers wondered whether the side could still dominate without those core players. Donnarumma admitted that the squad still has areas to improve, even after a flawless start to what many have termed the Enzo Maresca era. Yet he dismissed the notion of a "transition" season, insisting that the club’s sole aim remains winning every competition it enters. "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 the winning mentality – going out there and trying to win everything we possibly can." Donnarumma has been placed at the heart of a newly formed leadership group that replaces the departing veterans. Alongside centre‑back Ruben Dias, striker Erling Haaland and defender Marc Guehi, he forms a quartet of experienced players who have all lifted silverware at City and elsewhere. Their role is to set standards for the younger arrivals such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye, who are expected to make an immediate impact in what Donnarumma describes as a "non‑transition" year.
"We've changed a few players. A few new ones have arrived," Donnarumma explained. "They're all top players used to playing on the biggest stages, dealing with pressure and competing 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 making them feel comfortable.
The players who were already here are helping them a lot, and I think we're going to have a great season." He outlined the club’s ambitions clearly: to fight for every trophy on offer – the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup. City’s leadership wants to send a strong message that nothing is off‑limits.
Yet Donnarumma also acknowledged the biggest obstacle to their title hopes: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side also opened the campaign with four straight league wins before stumbling against Brighton, and they have the psychological edge of having edged City out for the Premier League title last May in the dramatic final‑day showdown.
The recent Guardiola documentary captured the disappointment felt by City players after a slip‑up at Bournemouth that handed the title to the Gunners. Donnarumma, who had been part of five consecutive league‑winning campaigns, reflected on that setback. "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.
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 be the two teams battling for the top spot again in May, Donnarumma was cautious. "I don't know.
We're only four games into the season," he replied, emphasizing that the focus must remain on the present. "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 added.
Beyond the immediate tactical and psychological aspects, Donnarumma highlighted the broader cultural shift within the club. The new leadership group is not merely about on‑field performance; it also involves mentoring younger players, fostering a cohesive locker‑room environment, and ensuring that the club’s storied legacy continues to inspire future generations.
He praised the professionalism of the incoming talent, noting that their experience in high‑pressure situations will be vital as City navigates a congested fixture list that includes European nights and domestic cup ties. In summary, Donnarumma’s message is unequivocal: Manchester City is not in a period of rebuilding or transition. The squad, bolstered by seasoned leaders and fresh talent, is laser‑focused on winning every competition it enters. While challenges from Arsenal and other Premier League rivals loom large, the Italian goalkeeper believes the team’s winning mentality, combined with the club’s historic ambition, will drive them toward a successful season.
The journey has just begun, but the tone set at the training ground suggests that City will fight fiercely for every trophy on offer.