Maresca's short-passing demand puts Donnarumma's Man City place under pressure

Enzo Maresca has issued a direct warning to Manchester City’s goalkeepers that playing long balls will not be tolerated under his management, a stance that raises immediate questions about Gianluigi Donnarumma’s position as first choice for the 2026/27 campaign.

The Italian head coach, confirmed in his role this week alongside seven new coaching appointments including former City goalkeeper Willy Caballero as assistant, made his philosophy explicit during his time at Chelsea. After a 4-0 win over Southampton in 2025, Maresca addressed goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen’s reluctance to play short despite being jeered by supporters for doing so. “My message to Filip was if you play a long ball, I will change you,” Maresca said. “It is difficult for Filip or Robert [Sanchez] when he is playing. It is difficult for all the ‘keepers, but they should just follow the plan.”

That message carries significant weight for Donnarumma, who started the majority of City’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures last season after winning a battle for the No.1 shirt with James Trafford. According to DataMB, Donnarumma played long balls 31.2 per cent of the time last season, with only 53.9 per cent of his passes classified as short — figures that sit awkwardly against Maresca’s demands.

Trafford, by contrast, is widely regarded as more comfortable playing out from the back, a quality that had previously been cited as making him well-suited to the Guardiola system when he returned to City from Burnley. The 24-year-old impressed during City’s cup runs last season, with his performance in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal drawing particular attention, including reported interest from Newcastle.

Trafford is expected to make a decision on his future after the World Cup, meaning the goalkeeping picture at the Etihad remains unsettled. The arrival of new head of goalkeeping Michele De Bernardin, who joins Richard Wright in the department, suggests further changes could follow.

For Donnarumma, the challenge is clear: adapt to a system that prioritises short build-up play, or risk losing the starting berth he secured under Pep Guardiola. Maresca has shown at Chelsea that his tactical demands are non-negotiable, regardless of the goalkeeper’s other qualities.