Maresca Stands by Donnarumma Amidst Recent Blunders

Gianluigi Donnarumma has received a vote of confidence from manager Enzo Maresca after his recent blunders played a role in Manchester City's losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. In Saturday's clash at Villa Park, Donnarumma allowed a long-range shot from Nicolas Jackson to slip under him, sealing City’s first league defeat of the season. Earlier this month, he was also at fault for two goals in a 4-1 defeat against PSG in the Champions League. Maresca addressed the situation, emphasizing that mistakes are part of football. "As a football player or manager, when you don’t get results or make some mistakes, it’s normal. It’s a consequence," he explained. "Gigio has been performing well since day one. Every player has off moments, and this is just part of the journey." He continued, "Players compete in so many matches that it’s nearly unavoidable to make errors at times. Donnarumma has a strong mentality; he knows when he slips up without needing us to point it out." Defender Marc Guéhi has also faced criticism lately. He was responsible for Jackson's opening goal on Saturday and had previously conceded a late penalty in a narrow win over Ipswich. His mistakes have been evident, including one that led to a goal for Spain’s Lamine Yamal in the Nations League. Maresca, however, remains optimistic about Guéhi. "I am completely happy with Marc. His response to setbacks is fantastic; he’s a great leader and one of our captains. Just like Gigio, he acknowledges his mistakes." To recharge, Donnarumma and four other players have been given three days off after the Villa match. "After the game, we decided to rest Erling [Haaland], Rúben [Dias], Elliot [Anderson], Gigio, and Josko [Gvardiol]. They’re on a short holiday to recover, and we expect them back ready to go, full of energy," Maresca confirmed. Geronimo Rulli is set to step in for Donnarumma during the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Brighton. Jamie Jackson will provide updates throughout the day.