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No longer a stage for Ederson's daring long passes, Manchester City now places its faith in Gianluigi Donnarumma. |
Without needing to show off with risky passes like Ederson, Gianluigi Donnarumma redefined the role of goalkeeper under Pep Guardiola - a barrier that brought safety, reliability, and composure to Manchester City.
Donnarumma - the iron goalkeeper
For eight years, Ederson Moraes was an icon of modern football at Manchester City. He was not just a goalkeeper, but the "11th player," participating in ball circulation, initiating attacks from his own half, and even directly creating chances.
In total, Ederson has 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 understood that safety is sometimes more important than flair. After many seasons relying on Ederson's ball-playing ability, Manchester City began searching for a goalkeeper with a purely defensive inclination. And the name chosen was Gianluigi Donnarumma - the hero of the Italian national team, 1.96 meters tall, who won the Yashin Trophy in 2025 after helping PSG win the Champions League.
Since Donnarumma's arrival, Manchester City's playing style has changed significantly. Last season, only 30.5% of the goalkeeper's passes were long passes, but this season that number has increased to 42% – the highest under Guardiola. Gone are the elaborate passing combinations in the penalty area; Manchester City now play more pragmatically, opting for long passes when necessary to reduce the risk from pressing.
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Since Donnarumma arrived, Manchester City's playing style has changed significantly. |
Another technical detail: Donnarumma is right-footed, while Ederson is left-footed. This means 60% of his long passes are directed towards the left wing, where Josko Gvardiol often drops deep to receive the ball. Guardiola quickly adjusted the pressing-free formation to adapt to the new goalkeeper, helping Manchester City 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 matches, Donnarumma has kept five clean sheets – a rate of 62.5%, the highest among the top 10 goalkeepers in the league. His save percentage is currently at 83%, far exceeding Ederson's average from last season (69%).
Those numbers not only speak to their form but also reflect the tactical impact Guardiola is aiming for: Manchester City now control the game through defensive solidity, not just through possession.
At PSG, over four seasons, Donnarumma prevented nearly 22 expected goals in Ligue 1 and the Champions League – second only to Alisson Becker and Jan Oblak during the same period.
In his Manchester City debut – the derby against Manchester United – he immediately made his mark with a diving save to deny Bryan Mbeumo's shot, helping the team secure a 3-0 victory. That moment made fans realize Guardiola had found a new defensive wall at the Etihad.
Guardiola is making changes - and that's a step forward, not a step backward.
Pep Guardiola has always been seen as a revolutionary in football, but he himself has had to learn to adapt. While his philosophy previously revolved around the goalkeeper being the first to create chances, now, with Donnarumma, Pep prioritizes mental fortitude and organization.
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If Ederson is the artist who uses his feet to create goals, then Donnarumma is the warrior who defends victory with his iron fists. |
Statistics show that last season Manchester City conceded 10 goals from the opponent's first shot on target – a figure that displeased Guardiola. This season, that hasn't happened even once in the matches Donnarumma has started. The difference isn't just in the goalkeeper's reflexes, but also in the psychological impact – when the defense feels secure, the whole team will defend better.
"He not only makes saves, but he also gives us more confidence every time we step onto the pitch," midfielder Tijjani Reijnders shared after the win against Napoli. "When Donnarumma is behind you, you feel like you're always protected."
The Donnarumma transfer wasn't initially planned. He wanted to stay at PSG to renew his contract, but upon hearing that Manchester City and Guardiola were interested, the Italian goalkeeper immediately agreed. PSG demanded £40 million, but Manchester City only offered £26 million – a bargain in the current goalkeeper market.
Donnarumma flew to Manchester on September 9th, just five days before the derby. After a meeting with Guardiola and Sporting Director Hugo Viana, he was immediately given the starting goalkeeper position. Since then, Manchester City have been unbeaten in all eight matches Donnarumma has played, winning six, drawing two, and conceding only four goals. This is the best start for a new goalkeeper in the Guardiola era.
Guardiola's Manchester City has gone through many 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 uses his feet to create goals, then Donnarumma is the warrior who defends victory with his iron fists. He doesn't make Manchester City more attractive, but he certainly makes them harder to beat.
Modern football sometimes doesn't need goalkeepers who can make 50-meter passes, but rather someone who can prevent the ball from crossing the goal line. And at Manchester City right now, nobody does that better than Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Source: https://znews.vn/chien-binh-donnarumma-post1596719.html
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