Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has delivered a strong message about the club’s ambitions after their perfect start to the new Premier League season.
City have won all four of their league matches so far, despite entering the campaign after a summer of major changes.
The Manchester club lost several key figures from the previous era, including Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri, while new faces arrived to help reshape Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Yet City have wasted little time finding their rhythm.
Their latest statement came at Old Trafford, where they secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Manchester derby.
Donnarumma was particularly impressed by the way his teammates responded after being reduced to 10 men, while the game was also surrounded by controversy over Erling Haaland’s winning goal and Phil Foden’s red card.
The Italy international, however, chose to focus on City’s mentality.
“I loved my team-mates’ performance, it was sublime,” he tells 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.”
Donnarumma has quickly become part of a new leadership group at City following the departures and changing roles of several senior players.
The goalkeeper now sits alongside Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland and Marc Guehi within the leadership structure.
That responsibility has become even more important as City integrate their new arrivals.
Players such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Ilimian Ndiaye are being asked to settle quickly and contribute to a team that Donnarumma insists should not hide behind the word “transition.”
“I don’t really like the word ‘transition.'” he adds.
“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.”
The message is clear. City are not lowering their expectations simply because the squad has changed.
Donnarumma also believes the newcomers are already adapting well to life at the club.
“We’ve changed a few players. A few new ones have arrived,” says Donnarumma.
“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 objective is to get to the end and compete for everything there is to compete for – in addition to the Premier League, there’s the Champions League and the two domestic cups.”
However, City’s route back to the Premier League title could once again involve Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side have also made a perfect start, winning their opening five league matches and carrying the confidence of having beaten City to the title last season.
Donnarumma was part of the City side that suffered that disappointment after winning the league in each of his previous five seasons.
The goalkeeper admits losing the title was difficult, but insists City must accept that strong competition exists across England and Europe.
“It’s difficult, but that’s football, that’s life. You’re not on your own,” he says about 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.”
Whether City and Arsenal will again be battling for the title deep into the season remains unknown.
Donnarumma is refusing to look that far ahead.
“I don’t know. We’re only four games into the season,” says the Italian goalkeeper.
For now, City’s focus is firmly on maintaining their standards and continuing their winning run.
“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.”
With City already showing resilience, ambition and a new-look leadership structure, Donnarumma’s message is unmistakable: the transition may be happening, but the demand for trophies has not changed.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
