Warrior Donnarumma

No longer the stage for Ederson's risky kicks, Manchester City now put their trust in Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Without needing to show off with risky passes like Ederson, Gianluigi Donnarumma redefined the goalkeeper role under Pep Guardiola - a stopper that brings safety, certainty and bravery to Manchester City.

Donnarumma - the steel goalkeeper

For eight years, Ederson Moraes was a symbol of modern football at Manchester City. He was not just a goalkeeper, but an “11th player”, helping to circulate the ball, opening up attacks from deep, and even directly assisting.

In total, Ederson has kept 168 clean sheets in 372 appearances, with an impressive save percentage of 73%. According to post-shot expected goals statistics from last season's Premier League, he prevented more than 5 expected goals, leading the league.

But football is always evolving, and Guardiola knows that safety is sometimes more important than style. After many seasons relying on Ederson’s footwork, Manchester City began looking for a “purely defensive” goalkeeper. The name chosen was Gianluigi Donnarumma – the 1.96m-tall Italian hero who won the 2025 Yashin Trophy after helping PSG win the Champions League.

Since Donnarumma arrived, Manchester City’s style of play has changed dramatically. Last season, only 30.5% of the team’s goalkeepers’ passes were long balls, but this season that figure has increased to 42% – the highest under Guardiola. No longer do they use elaborate combinations in the box, Manchester City are now more pragmatic, accepting long balls when necessary to reduce the risk of pressing pressure.

Since Donnarumma's arrival, Manchester City's style of play has changed dramatically.

Another technical detail: Donnarumma is right-footed, while Ederson is more left-footed. This means 60% of his kicks are towards the left flank, where Josko Gvardiol often drops deep to receive the ball. Guardiola quickly adapted his release scheme to accommodate his new goalkeeper, allowing Manchester City to maintain control without taking risks.

Donnarumma doesn't “play like a midfielder”, but he knows how to control the tempo and maintain stability - something a top team sometimes needs more than creativity.

After just eight Premier League games, Donnarumma has five clean sheets – a rate of 62.5%, the highest among the top 10 goalkeepers in the division. His save efficiency now stands at 83%, well above Ederson’s average of 69% last season.

Those numbers not only speak to form but also reflect the tactical impact Guardiola is aiming for: Manchester City now control games through defensive solidity, not just possession.

At PSG, in four seasons, Donnarumma has “prevented” nearly 22 expected goals in Ligue 1 and the Champions League - only behind Alisson Becker and Jan Oblak in the same period.

In his Manchester City debut - a derby against Manchester United - he immediately made his mark with a diving save from Bryan Mbeumo, helping the team to a 3-0 victory. It was the moment that made fans realise Guardiola had found a new wall at the Etihad.

Guardiola changes - and it's a step forward, not a step back

Pep Guardiola has always been seen as a football revolutionist, but he has had to adapt. While his philosophy previously revolved around “the goalkeeper as the first creator”, now, with Donnarumma, Pep places the top priority on mental stability and organization.

If Ederson is an artist who uses his feet to create goals, then Donnarumma is a warrior who protects victory with his hands of steel.

Statistics show that last season Manchester City conceded 10 goals from their opponents' first shot on target - a number that displeased Guardiola. This season, that has not happened once in Donnarumma's starting games. The difference comes not only from the goalkeeper's reflexes, but also from the psychological impact - when the defenders feel secure, the whole team will defend better.

“He not only saves goals, but also gives us confidence every time we are on the pitch,” midfielder Tijjani Reijnders said after the win over Napoli. “When Donnarumma is behind you, you feel protected.”

The Donnarumma deal was not initially planned. He wanted to stay at PSG to extend his contract, but when he heard that Manchester City and Guardiola were interested, the Italian immediately agreed. PSG wanted £40 million, but Manchester City only paid £26 million - a bargain in the current goalkeeper market.

Donnarumma flew to Manchester on September 9, just five days before the derby. After a meeting with Guardiola and sporting director Hugo Viana, he was given the starting position immediately. Since then, Manchester City have been unbeaten in all eight games Donnarumma has played, winning six, drawing two, and conceding just four goals. This is the best start for a new goalkeeper in the Guardiola era.

Guardiola's Manchester City have gone through phases: from risky total football to absolute control. Now, with Donnarumma, they are entering an era of efficiency and balance.

If Ederson is the artist who creates goals with his feet, Donnarumma is the warrior who defends victories with his hands of steel. He may not make Manchester City more attractive, but he certainly makes them harder to beat.

Modern football doesn't need goalkeepers who can make 50-yard passes, it needs goalkeepers who can stop the ball from crossing the line. And at Manchester City right now, no one does that better than Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Source: https://znews.vn/chien-binh-donnarumma-post1596719.html