Pep Guardiola Confirms All Manchester City Goalkeepers Will Feature as He Decides Derby Starter
Pep Guardiola vows to rotate his goalkeepers this season as he weighs up Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has assured fans that all four of his goalkeepers will play this season while he decides between Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford for Sunday’s derby against United.
On transfer deadline day, City added Italy No.1 Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, joining summer recruits James Trafford and Marcus Bettinelli, with Stefan Ortega also kept in the squad.
Long-serving No.1 Ederson departed to Fenerbahce for £12.1m, bringing an end to his eight-year, trophy-filled spell at the Etihad.
“Ederson was instrumental in the club’s most successful decade,” Guardiola said, praising his impact before acknowledging the Brazilian’s desire for a new challenge. He also commended former midfield star Ilkay Gündoğan and defender Manuel Akanji for their roles in City’s recent triumphs.
With Trafford starting the first three league games, Guardiola must now choose whether to hand the gloveman duties to his £26m deadline-day signing.
Choosing between Donnarumma and Trafford
“Gianluigi is tall and commands his box,” Guardiola said. “We need a keeper who makes safe saves, gives the team confidence, shows personality and presence. He proved his quality in big Champions League nights at Villa Park and Anfield last season.”
“He will concede goals, but we will handle it,” he added. On Trafford, he insisted: “He is a City keeper – only one can start, but the season is long and everyone will feature.”
Meanwhile, United manager Rúben Amorim confirmed Altay Bayındır will start in goal for the visitors, leaving new signing Senne Lammens on the bench.
Donnarumma brings different strengths than Ederson
City’s new signing represents a different profile from Ederson, whose exceptional distribution redefined goalkeeping in the Premier League with seven assists last season. Guardiola said: “We didn’t sign Gigi to replicate Ederson’s style – he has his own strengths.”
Haaland edges Isak in Guardiola’s view
Striker Erling Haaland arrives at Old Trafford on the back of five goals in Norway’s 11-1 win over Moldova and has 88 goals in 100 Premier League games – the fastest to reach that mark. When asked to compare Haaland with Liverpool’s record £125m signing Alexander Isak, Guardiola replied: “Erling is a little bit above, though Isak is exceptional. But I wouldn’t swap Erling for anyone.”
City head into the 197th Manchester derby in 13th place after consecutive league defeats, one point behind ninth-placed United. “We’ve lost two in a row, it’s not good enough,” Haaland admitted. “It’s perfect to turn things around against United.”
Guardiola insists his entire goalkeeping squad will be used this season, even as he weighs up Donnarumma’s Premier League debut in the rivalry match against United.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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