Israel’s Manor Solomon, left, in action against Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Israel and Italy at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola applauds supporters after the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at the Falmer stadium in Brighton, England, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
FILE - Manchester City’s Ederson Moraes during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, April 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)
Guardiola ready to ‘adapt’ to Donnarumma’s strengths after Ederson’s exit from Man City
MANCHESTER, England (AP) 鈥 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is willing to adapt the team鈥檚 approach following the signing of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and will not expect the Italian to offer the same ball-playing abilities as the departed Ederson Moraes.
Israel’s Manor Solomon, left, in action against Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during a Group I, World Cup qualifier soccer match between Israel and Italy at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) 鈥 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is willing to adapt the team鈥檚 approach following the signing of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and will not expect the Italian to offer the same ball-playing abilities as the departed Ederson Moraes.
Ederson, who ended his trophy-laden eight-year spell at City by joining Fenerbahce last week, revolutionized the goalkeeper position in English soccer with his distribution and technical skills.
That made him a perfect fit for Guardiola鈥檚 style of play but the same cannot be said of Donnarumma, a brilliant shot-stopper whose strength isn鈥檛 passing the ball out from the back.
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Donnarumma is in contention to make his debut for City in the Manchester derby against United in the on Sunday following his move from Paris Saint-Germain, although Guardiola wouldn鈥檛 confirm whether the Italy international will start.
鈥淎lways I try to adapt to the quality of the players,鈥 Guardiola said Friday. 鈥淚 will not demand Gigi do something that is uncomfortable.
鈥淲e are talking about the best player I have ever seen in the distribution, short or long, with Ederson. We didn鈥檛 take Gigi to do what Ederson has done. Gigi has another quality.鈥
Guardiola said he wasn鈥檛 trying to 鈥渦ndermine鈥 Donnarumma by pointing out Ederson鈥檚 qualities and spoke glowingly about his new signing鈥檚 strengths.
鈥淗e鈥檚 so tall. He鈥檚 so huge,鈥 Guardiola said with a smile, adding: 鈥淗e鈥檚 a big presence on the big stages.
鈥淲hat he has done in the Champions League last season at Villa Park, Anfield, many games, proves how good he is.鈥
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Guardiola said he met Donnarumma for the first time on Wednesday but didn鈥檛 see him train on Thursday.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see,鈥 Guardiola said when asked if Donnarumma will come in for James Trafford, who has started City鈥檚 first three games in the Premier League 鈥 a win at Wolverhampton before back-to-back losses to Tottenham and Brighton.
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