Enzo Maresca has left Manchester City goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford in no doubt about what is expected of them after sending a strong message about playing out from the back. The new head coach ticked off another task on his to-do list on Wednesday evening as the club confirmed seven new coaches for the 2026/27 season, including former City goalkeeper Willy Caballero as one of his trusted assistants.
New Coaching Staff Arrive
Among the arrivals is new head of goalkeeping Michele De Bernardin, who will work alongside Richard Wright. De Bernardin's arrival is the latest change to the goalkeeping department, and there could yet be more to come. Maresca has a clear vision for how he wants his team to play, and his goalkeepers are central to that plan.
The Battle for No.1
Last season under Pep Guardiola, City had the luxury of two No.1s with Donnarumma and Trafford battling for the starting spot. Donnarumma won the battle, starting the majority of Premier League and Champions League fixtures, while Trafford made his point in the cup competitions. Trafford was a stalwart in the Carabao and FA Cups as City won both, with his display in the League Cup final against Arsenal particularly impressive. That performance garnered attention from other clubs, notably Newcastle. Trafford will make a decision on his future after the World Cup.
Maresca's Demand for Short Passing
Should Trafford wish to challenge Donnarumma for the starting spot next season, he will be on red alert to Maresca's demands. Following Chelsea's 4-0 win over Southampton in 2025, Maresca sent a strong message to goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who was jeered by his own supporters for persistently playing short passes out from the back. When questioned about this, Maresca said: "My message to Filip was if you play a long ball, I will change you - but 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."
Donnarumma's Long Ball Tendency
Donnarumma, Trafford, and all of the City squad are familiar with a head coach who likes to stick stringently to a plan. However, Maresca's insistence on playing short may be greeted differently by the two goalkeepers. Trafford is perceived as being more comfortable playing short passes from the back, which is why many thought he would be the ideal goalkeeper for the Guardiola system when he returned from Burnley. Donnarumma's strengths lie elsewhere. Last season, the Italian goalkeeper played long balls 31.2 per cent of the time, according to DataMB. Furthermore, only 53.9 per cent of passes were considered to be short. For a manager desperate for his goalkeepers to follow the short-passing plan, that would be considered a red flag.
Passing Statistics Compared
Who Scored adds that Donnarumma completed 80.3 per cent of passes in the Premier League last season, significantly higher than Trafford's 68.6 per cent in the Carabao Cup. The Italian could argue that going long does not necessarily mean possession is squandered, but the question will be whether Maresca is willing to adapt. Guardiola did that last season when he signed Donnarumma, who is arguably the best shot-stopper in the Premier League but can be caught out when playing out from the back. The battle for No.1 could become very interesting next season.
