Manchester City boss Guardiola plays down concerns around Donnarumma’s fallibility with his feet

Pep Guardiola has no intention of asking Gianluigi Donnarumma to do what Ederson did so successfully for Manchester City for many years.

Ederson helped revolutionise the goalkeeping position during his time in England, helping build moves from the back while also possessing the skill to pick out team-mates with precise long balls when necessary.

His ability with his feet became a useful part of the City armoury as the club won six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Guardiola not fazed by Donnarumma’s weaknesses

The Brazil international departed for Fenerbahce earlier this month after City secured the signing of Donnarumma as his replacement. The Italian is not regarded as strong on the ground but is arguably a better shot stopper and Guardiola will attempt to utilise Donnaruma’s strengths rather than worry about his weaknesses.

“I always try to adapt to the quality of the players,” he said. “I wouldn’t demand Gigi do something he is uncomfortable with. We are talking about the best player [goalkeeper] I have ever seen with distribution, short and long passes, in Ederson.

“We didn’t take Gigi to do what Ederson has done. Gigi has another quality.”

Asked for his first impressions of Donnarumma, who played a key role as Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League last season and was a star performer in Italy’s triumphant Euro 2020 campaign, Guardiola looked skywards and said: “He is so tall. He is so huge. All the keepers save shots, bring personality to the team and be a big presence. He has done that in the biggest games. He is going to concede goals but all of us will help him try not to.”