This is who we are. This is our team. This is City.
Several days have passed since Manchester City's dramatic Manchester Derby triumph, yet Gianluigi Donnarumma remains immersed in the satisfaction of the victory. The Italian goalkeeper's focus extends beyond the controversy surrounding Erling Haaland's decisive strike—though he maintains that Phil Foden's dismissal was
harsh—to something far more significant about his team's character.
Playing with a numerical disadvantage and facing mounting pressure, City demonstrated the resilience required to secure victory. According to Reuters, Haaland's second-half goal was initially disallowed for offside before being overturned following a lengthy VAR review. The Guardian noted this was City's 199th meeting with United, with the goal marking Haaland's ninth strike in the fixture.
Speaking to Sky Sports at the club's training facility, Donnarumma expressed his admiration for the collective display.
I loved my team-mates' performance, it was sublime,he explained.
The capacity to stay in the game and to react to difficult moments - no one can take that away from us.
The goalkeeper's commitment to the club's ambitions runs deep.
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.
Few observers had predicted City would maintain an unblemished record heading into the international break, particularly following the departures of Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri—pillars of the club's recent dominance. The squad has shown inconsistency in certain aspects, and Donnarumma acknowledges the learning curve remains steep under Enzo Maresca's stewardship. Yet the goalkeeper rejects the narrative that City face a rebuilding phase.
I don't really like the word 'transition'.Donnarumma stated firmly.
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.
Donnarumma himself has become instrumental in establishing the winning culture required during this transitional period. He forms part of a newly-constituted leadership group designed to fill the void left by departing veterans. Alongside Ruben Dias, Haaland and Marc Guehi, Donnarumma anchors a quartet united by their trophy-winning pedigree at both City and previous employers.
As newcomers including Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Ilimian Ndiaye integrate into the squad, tasked with delivering immediate impact in what Donnarumma insists is not a transition year, the leadership group bears responsibility for maintaining standards. Bouaddi's assured debut in City's 2-0 Champions League victory over Porto suggested Maresca has assembled a midfield capable of functioning without Rodri.
We've changed a few players. A few new ones have arrived,Donnarumma reflected.
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.
City's ambitions across all fronts represent a clear statement of intent. However, one obstacle looms particularly large: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side have matched City's perfect start with five consecutive victories, bolstered by the psychological advantage of claiming the Premier League title last May—a crown City relinquished after years of dominance.
The recent Guardiola documentary captured the dejection among City's squad as they surrendered the title following a slip-up at Bournemouth. For Donnarumma, who had secured league honours in each of the five preceding seasons, the disappointment cut particularly deep. Yet he frames the setback within the broader context of elite competition.
It's difficult, but that's football, that's life. You're not on your own,he reflected.
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 emerge as the season's principal contenders remains uncertain at this early stage.
I don't know. We're only four games into the season,Donnarumma cautioned when asked about the likelihood of another two-horse race.
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.
What's next for City
City's immediate schedule presents back-to-back fixtures that will test their credentials. Manchester City are scheduled to host Norwich City in the Carabao Cup third round on Thursday, 17 September, with kick-off at 8pm, before facing Sunderland in the Premier League on Super Sunday, 20 September, with kick-off at 2pm.
