Maresca dismisses Donnarumma concerns after third error in Man City's 3-2 win over Leipzig

Enzo Maresca insisted Gianluigi Donnarumma’s latest error is “not a concern” after the Manchester City goalkeeper made three mistakes in a 3-2 win over RB Leipzig, one of which directly led to a goal. The Italian conceded at his near post from a cross, though Maresca was quick to point to a world-class save Donnarumma had made from Christoph Baumgartner just moments earlier as evidence of his goalkeeper’s unique ability.

“Not a concern but it’s a mistake. We recognise that it’s a mistake,” Maresca said. “A few minutes before the goal he’s done a save that no keeper in the world makes. Gigio knows he was not good with the first goal. He’s going to do better.”

Maresca was careful not to single out Donnarumma, framing the defensive lapses as a collective problem that extends across the squad. Both goals conceded, he argued, were avoidable, and he called for greater discipline at the back despite his side’s ability to create chances at the other end.

“Both goals are quite silly goals we can avoid. We are creating many chances in each game but we need to avoid silly goals,” he said. “It’s about working more. Understand and analyse. I’m new here, I need to know the players and they need to know me. We can only improve.”

The City manager also pushed back on suggestions that the team’s defensive issues stem from a structural problem, pointing instead to a run of individual errors across all competitions over the past five or six games.

“I don’t think in this moment it’s a matter of balance,” Maresca added. “In the last five or six games we concede in all competitions — they are individual mistakes, so it’s not about the system or a midfielder to the offensive line. It’s more individual mistakes that we need to do better to avoid.”

Despite the defensive frailties, City secured the three points, and Maresca remains confident that familiarity between manager and squad will sharpen the team’s performances as the season progresses.