“Listen, trust me” – Pep Guardiola issues mammoth praise for Gianluigi Donnarumma in 3-0 win over West Ham | OneFootball

Gianluigi Donnarumma played a crucial role in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Pep Guardiola has insisted.

The result extended City’s strong domestic run and ensured they remained firmly in the Premier League title picture heading deeper into the festive period and a further run of all-important fixtures.

While goals from Erling Haaland and a commanding midfield display ultimately settled the contest, manager Guardiola was quick to stress that the scoreline did not reflect the true difficulty of the afternoon.

West Ham, under Nuno Espírito Santo, attempted to disrupt Manchester City’s rhythm with an aggressive second-half approach, creating moments that threatened to shift the momentum of the match.

It was during this spell that Pep Guardiola felt the encounter could have taken a very different turn without key defensive interventions. In recent weeks, the City manager has repeatedly highlighted lapses in positional discipline and game control, echoing comments made after previous matches about the need to rediscover standards that defined City’s dominance.

Speaking to reporters after the contest, Guardiola told reporters, “Gigio [Donnarumma] saved in the first actions [of the second-half], two saves, like it was against Leeds. The Leeds game was 2-0 [at half-time], the same like today. It was 2-1, then 2-2; it’s quite similar.”

The Catalan coach insisted, “If they scored to make it 2-1, West Ham would’ve scored 2-2 – I swear… Listen, trust me. I’m not a magician to know the future or the past, but it would happen.

“It’s because we are not in the right places, we were not. And we have to come back to playing the way we defined that team for many, many years.”

Pep Guardiola’s remarks placed Gianluigi Donnarumma’s contribution firmly alongside the goals at the other end, underlining the manager’s belief that matches at this level are often decided by moments rather than sustained dominance.

With City continuing to juggle domestic and European commitments, Donnarumma’s role could become increasingly significant if Pep Guardiola’s concerns over control persist. The manager has already spoken openly about demanding higher standards, whether in tactical discipline, mentality, or individual responsibility.

As the Premier League schedule intensifies, Pep Guardiola will hope that his side can marry clinical finishing with the structural solidity he believes has been missing in phases. If not, performances like Donnarumma’s against West Ham may continue to prove decisive.