Maresca backs Donnarumma to recover after costly errors against Villa and PSG

Enzo Maresca has thrown his support behind Gianluigi Donnarumma after the goalkeeper made costly errors in back-to-back games against Aston Villa in the Premier League and PSG in the Champions League, insisting the Italian international has the character to bounce back.

Donnarumma is among five players given extended time off following the defeat at Villa Park, meaning he will miss the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton, with Geronimo Rulli set to deputise. The 25-year-old is expected to return between the posts for the Premier League meeting with Brighton on Saturday.

The Villa defeat was particularly damaging. Despite creating more and better chances across the game, City were punished by a Marc Guehi error in the first half and a Donnarumma mistake in the second. It followed a Champions League loss to PSG in which Donnarumma was judged to have been at fault for the visitors’ fourth goal. Guehi had also struggled with two errors in the previous week’s win over Ipswich, highlighting a broader run of defensive lapses.

Maresca, however, was measured in his assessment, acknowledging the mistakes without losing faith in his goalkeeper. “As a football player or manager, when you don’t get results or make some mistakes it’s normal. It’s a consequence,” he said. “Gigio since we started is doing well, like any manager or player is making some mistakes but it’s part of the season.”

The Italian head coach pointed to the sheer volume of games as an unavoidable factor. “They play so many games and minutes that sometimes it’s impossible not to make mistakes. He’s a strong character. He knows that when he makes some mistake, he doesn’t need us to tell them. He recognises that and it’s part of the game.”

The back-to-back Brighton fixtures — cup and league within days of each other — will give Maresca a swift opportunity to assess how Donnarumma responds under scrutiny.