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Donnarumma rejects Man City transition label as new-look side maintain perfect start
16th September, 2026 05:12 PM
Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has dismissed the idea that the club are entering a transitional campaign, insisting their ambitions remain unchanged despite significant changes to the squad.
City have made an impressive beginning to the 2026/27 Premier League season, winning all four of their opening matches. Their latest success came in the Manchester derby, where they defeated Manchester United 1-0 despite having to deal with difficult circumstances during the match.
For Donnarumma, the manner in which City secured victory was just as important as the result itself.
“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.” He said as quoted by Sky Sports.
The Italian goalkeeper was particularly encouraged by City’s ability to withstand pressure after Phil Foden was sent off. Although Erling Haaland’s winning goal attracted controversy, Donnarumma focused more on the collective response from his teammates.
City have undergone considerable changes during the summer, with several experienced figures from Pep Guardiola’s successful era no longer part of the squad. Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri were among those who departed, leaving Enzo Maresca with the task of developing a reshaped team.
Despite those changes, Donnarumma does not believe the club should be viewed as rebuilding.
“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 goalkeeper has also taken on greater responsibility within the squad after being included in a new leadership group alongside Ruben Dias, Haaland and Marc Guehi.
The quartet have all enjoyed trophy success during their careers and are expected to help integrate City’s new arrivals while maintaining the standards established at the club.
Among those adjusting to life at City are Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Iliman Ndiaye. Donnarumma believes the newcomers are settling quickly despite the challenges that come with joining a new 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.”
City’s early form has also placed them alongside Arsenal in the early title conversation. Mikel Arteta’s team have also opened the campaign with five consecutive victories after edging City to the Premier League crown last season.
Donnarumma was part of the City squad that missed out on the title after previously winning league championships in each of the preceding five seasons.
The disappointment remains, but the goalkeeper accepts that competing at the highest level means dealing with setbacks.
“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.”
With only four league matches played, Donnarumma is reluctant to make predictions about how the title race will develop.
Asked whether City and Arsenal could again be battling for the championship when the season reaches its conclusion, he replied: “I don’t know. We’re only four games into the season.”
For now, the focus remains on maintaining City’s strong start and approaching each fixture with the same ambition.
“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.
