Manchester City supporters have delivered a mixed but increasingly frustrated reaction to Enzo Maresca’s comments about Gianluigi Donnarumma after City’s Champions League victory over Porto.
Maresca defended his goalkeeper after another match in which Donnarumma’s ability with the ball at his feet became a major talking point. The Manchester City boss suggested that some of the pressure placed on the Italian goalkeeper came from decisions made by his teammates rather than from Donnarumma himself.
Enzo Maresca on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s performances so far this season, particularly with the ball at his feet: “Donnarumma was top against Coventry, some important saves. Again, I think a few times tonight it’s not Gigio’s mistake, it’s more the wrong decisions to go back to…
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 8, 2026
That explanation did not convince everyone.
City supporters on X quickly responded to the comments, with several questioning Maresca’s decision to defend Donnarumma. Others argued that the goalkeeper needs to improve, particularly with Manchester United waiting on Sunday.
The reaction shows that Donnarumma’s performances have already become one of the most divisive subjects of the early Maresca era.
Maresca defends Donnarumma after Porto
Following the Champions League match, Maresca praised Donnarumma’s performance in goal but also acknowledged concerns about City’s use of him during build-up play.
The manager’s assessment was that Donnarumma had produced important saves and that some of the difficult situations involving him were created because City players repeatedly passed the ball back to their goalkeeper when they did not need to.
That distinction is important.
Maresca was not simply claiming that Donnarumma had been flawless. Instead, he appeared to argue that the goalkeeper was sometimes being put into unnecessary situations by his teammates.
However, some Manchester City fans interpreted the comments very differently.
Rather than seeing the manager’s comments as tactical protection for his goalkeeper, they felt Maresca was making excuses for performances that need to improve.
“He need to do better”
One of the clearest reactions came from Antony, who simply wrote:
“He need to do better”
It was a short message, but it captured the frustration among a section of the City fanbase.
Supporters are not necessarily demanding that Donnarumma be dropped after every difficult moment. However, there is growing concern about whether he can consistently provide the level of composure required in Maresca’s possession-based system.
A goalkeeper at Manchester City is expected to do more than stop shots.
He must also be comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, making quick decisions and finding the correct passing option.
That makes Donnarumma’s distribution particularly important.
“Gigio will kill us this season”
Another supporter, Saulwa Iryn, was considerably more pessimistic.
The fan wrote:
“Gigio will kill us this season 🤦♂️🤦♂️”
The comment attracted strong engagement and reflects the anxiety surrounding Donnarumma’s early performances.
For supporters who already have concerns about the goalkeeper’s distribution, every misplaced pass or uncomfortable decision can reinforce those fears.
The pressure is even greater because Manchester City are trying to establish a new tactical identity under Maresca.
The goalkeeper is an important part of that structure.
If City want to build from the back, Donnarumma will regularly become involved in possession. That means his decisions can influence the entire team’s ability to progress the ball.
Was Maresca right about the passes?
There is another side to the argument.
A goalkeeper can only make a good decision when his teammates provide realistic options.
If defenders repeatedly pass the ball backwards under pressure, the goalkeeper can quickly become the final player responsible for escaping a dangerous situation.
That appears to be what Maresca was highlighting.
His comments suggest that City need to improve their decision-making collectively rather than simply blaming Donnarumma whenever the ball goes back to him.
This is especially relevant to a team still learning a new tactical system.
Maresca’s City are not the same team that Guardiola managed.
The positional structures, pressing triggers and build-up patterns are evolving. Players are still adapting to the manager’s expectations.
That could explain why Donnarumma is occasionally receiving the ball in situations where the team should have progressed possession earlier.
However, that explanation has not removed the concerns of supporters.
The Arsenal example returns
One supporter, Ebuka, brought up an earlier example to challenge the idea that passing back to Donnarumma is always the problem.
The fan compared the situation to a throw from Nunes to Donnarumma against Arsenal last season, describing it as:
“so uncalled for”
The reference shows why the debate has become complicated.
Fans are not only assessing Donnarumma’s technical ability. They are also analysing whether City’s outfield players are making sensible decisions when involving him.
If the goalkeeper receives the ball after an unnecessary pass, his teammates may deserve some criticism.
But if Donnarumma receives a manageable ball and then struggles to deal with the pressure, responsibility naturally shifts back towards him.
That balance is what supporters want to see.
One fan wants a new No. 1
Not everyone is prepared to give Donnarumma more time.
Expo_the_don was particularly strong in his criticism, arguing that City need:
“a new number 1”
The supporter even suggested Costa, the Porto goalkeeper City faced in the Champions League match, as an alternative.
That reaction is revealing.
City fans had the opportunity to watch another goalkeeper in a high-pressure Champions League environment, and some supporters evidently came away wondering whether the club could have made a different decision.
Whether that opinion represents the majority is another matter.
The reactions are clearly divided.
Some fans remain willing to back Donnarumma and Maresca.
Others are already questioning whether the goalkeeper fits what the manager wants to do.
Sunday against Manchester United changes everything
Perhaps the biggest reason for the urgency among supporters is the timing.
Manchester City face Manchester United on Sunday.
That means Donnarumma will have little time to escape the spotlight.
JIGGY made the situation clear:
“He should step up because we have utd on Sunday”
That is probably the most important message from the entire reaction.
A Manchester derby is not the ideal environment for a goalkeeper to be struggling with confidence or distribution.
United will look to put pressure on City’s build-up.
If City repeatedly play the ball back to Donnarumma, Maresca’s team must have a clear plan for dealing with the press.
Donnarumma will also need to demonstrate that he can remain calm when opponents close him down.
Maresca faces a delicate goalkeeper decision
Maresca’s comments may ultimately prove to be an attempt to protect his goalkeeper before a huge fixture.
Publicly criticising Donnarumma would hardly help his confidence ahead of a Manchester derby.
Instead, the manager has chosen to explain why he believes the goalkeeper is sometimes being put into unnecessarily difficult situations.
That is a reasonable managerial approach.
But supporters will judge the decision based on what happens on the pitch.
If Donnarumma performs well against United, Maresca’s defence will look justified.
If he makes another costly error, the manager’s comments will inevitably receive even more scrutiny.
That is the reality of managing Manchester City.
The Porto performance provides some encouragement
Despite the criticism, City’s Champions League victory over Porto should not be forgotten.
The team produced a positive result in a difficult European environment.
Erling Haaland continued to deliver in front of goal, while Ayyoub Bouaddi also impressed and added to the excitement surrounding City’s evolving midfield.
The defensive and attacking improvements therefore need to be considered alongside the concerns over Donnarumma.
City are still developing under Maresca.
There will be good performances, mistakes and tactical adjustments along the way.
The goalkeeper debate is simply one of the first major tests of the new manager’s approach.
Manchester City fans want answers against United
The reaction to Maresca’s Donnarumma comments reveals a clear divide among Manchester City supporters.
Some believe the goalkeeper deserves more protection because his teammates are sometimes making poor decisions by passing backwards unnecessarily.
Others believe Donnarumma must take responsibility and improve his performances.
A smaller but vocal group is already questioning whether City should have a different first-choice goalkeeper.
For now, Maresca has made his position clear.
He believes Donnarumma has produced important saves and that not every difficult moment is the goalkeeper’s fault.
The supporters, however, want to see evidence on the pitch.
And there could be no bigger test than Sunday.
Against Manchester United, Donnarumma will have the opportunity to answer his critics himself.
If he produces a commanding performance, the conversation could change quickly.
If the same problems appear again, the pressure on both goalkeeper and manager will only increase.
For Maresca, the message from the supporters is simple: defence is one thing, but performance must ultimately do the talking.
