Manchester City supporters have expressed their frustration with Enzo Maresca after the manager publicly defended Gianluigi Donnarumma following another disappointing goalkeeping moment.

The Italian goalkeeper has found himself under increasing scrutiny after a series of mistakes, with his latest error coming during City’s Champions League victory over RB Leipzig.

However, rather than suggesting that a change could be considered, Maresca has made it clear that he remains confident in his number one goalkeeper.

That position has not gone down particularly well with sections of the Manchester City fanbase.

Supporters have questioned the manager’s judgement, raised concerns about the team’s defensive situation and demanded greater accountability from a goalkeeper who is expected to provide reliability at the highest level.

For many fans, the issue is no longer simply about one mistake. It is about a growing pattern that they believe could seriously damage City’s ambitions if it continues.

Maresca refuses to consider changing his goalkeeper

Donnarumma’s latest controversy followed Manchester City’s 3-2 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig.

Although City secured all three points, the goalkeeper was criticised for his involvement in the goal scored by Ridle Baku.

The Leipzig player beat Donnarumma at his near post, raising further questions about the goalkeeper’s recent performances.

Donnarumma has now made three errors leading to goals across all competitions this season.

One of those mistakes came against Aston Villa in the Premier League, a defeat that ended City’s perfect start to the campaign.

The timing is particularly uncomfortable for Manchester City.

The Blues have also lost their last two Premier League matches, dropping to second place behind Arsenal.

With the pressure increasing, Maresca was asked whether he was considering reviewing his goalkeeping options during the upcoming international break.

His response was decisive.

The City manager insisted that he was not thinking about changing his goalkeeper.

Maresca also highlighted an impressive save Donnarumma had produced shortly before his mistake against Leipzig.

He explained:

“I’m not thinking about the goalkeeper situation. We’re talking about a mistake, but a few minutes before, he’s done a save that any keeper in the world, they’re not going to do that save! So it’s always a balance.”

He added that Donnarumma understands his mistake and believes the goalkeeper will improve.

“Gigio knows that the first goal was not good, but he’s going to do better!”

While Maresca’s comments demonstrate his determination to protect his player, they have also created another debate among Manchester City supporters.

‘We are in deep trouble’ – City supporters question Maresca’s decision

One of the most concerning reactions came from supporters who believe Manchester City are heading towards a difficult period if the current situation continues.

One fan simply wrote:

“We are in deep trouble.”

It was a short reaction, but it captured the anxiety surrounding the team’s recent performances.

City supporters have become accustomed to having dependable goalkeeping at the highest level. Mistakes that directly contribute to goals are therefore particularly difficult to accept.

The concern is not necessarily that Donnarumma cannot produce spectacular saves. His ability to make extraordinary stops is not in question.

Instead, supporters want consistency.

They want a goalkeeper who can make the routine decisions correctly, maintain concentration throughout matches and avoid giving opponents unnecessary opportunities.

Another supporter questioned the manager’s apparent reluctance to consider his alternatives.

“What’s the use of the second GK if the first ain’t doing well?”

That question touches on an important issue within the squad.

Manchester City have other goalkeeping options, and supporters naturally expect competition for places to remain meaningful.

If the first-choice goalkeeper continues making mistakes without any possibility of losing his position, fans may begin questioning the purpose of having alternatives.

For these supporters, squad competition should be based on performances rather than reputation.

‘Maresca doesn’t listen to the fans’ – Manager’s decision sparks frustration

Maresca’s comments have also reopened the debate about his relationship with the Manchester City fanbase.

Some supporters believe the manager is showing too much loyalty to Donnarumma instead of acknowledging the concerns being raised by those watching the team’s performances.

One fan expressed that frustration directly:

“Maresca doesn’t listen to the fans.”

Another questioned the manager’s apparent defence of the goalkeeper, asking:

“Why is he glazing him so much?”

These reactions suggest that the disagreement goes beyond Donnarumma’s performances.

It is increasingly becoming a question of managerial judgement.

Supporters understand that managers must protect their players, particularly when they are experiencing difficult periods.

However, there is a difference between supporting a player and appearing unwilling to acknowledge a recurring problem.

Maresca has every right to defend Donnarumma publicly.

Managers should not necessarily make selection decisions based on social media reactions or fan pressure.

Nevertheless, supporters expect honesty when performances fall below the required standard.

The concern is that repeatedly defending the goalkeeper could create the impression that mistakes are being overlooked rather than properly addressed.

For a club competing for major trophies, that is an uncomfortable perception.

‘When is he going to do better? We are waiting’

Perhaps the biggest issue for frustrated supporters is that Maresca’s promise of improvement is becoming difficult for some to accept.

The manager believes Donnarumma will respond positively and perform better.

But fans want to see that improvement on the pitch.

One supporter summed up the frustration with a straightforward question:

“When is he going to do better? We are waiting.”

It is difficult to dismiss that concern when the goalkeeper has already been involved in several costly mistakes this season.

Manchester City cannot afford to keep giving opponents unnecessary opportunities.

At the highest level, individual errors can determine the outcome of important matches.

A goalkeeper’s primary responsibility is to prevent goals, and supporters expect that responsibility to be fulfilled consistently.

Donnarumma’s outstanding saves deserve recognition.

However, fans are questioning whether those moments should be enough to outweigh mistakes that could have been avoided.

One particularly interesting reaction offered a different perspective on the entire debate.

The supporter explained:

“I would rather have a keeper who doesn’t make silly mistakes than one who makes mistakes week in week out in exchange for making a save that other keepers wouldn’t ordinarily make.”

That argument goes directly to the heart of the disagreement between Maresca and sections of the fanbase.

Supporters are not necessarily demanding extraordinary performances every week.

They simply want reliability.

A goalkeeper who makes spectacular saves but regularly produces avoidable errors can create uncertainty throughout the defensive unit.

For City, that uncertainty is something Maresca must address.

Donnarumma still has an opportunity to win supporters back

Despite the growing criticism, it would be premature to suggest that Donnarumma has no future at Manchester City.

The Italian remains a talented goalkeeper with significant experience at the highest level.

His ability to make difficult saves is precisely why Maresca highlighted his contribution against Leipzig.

The manager is also aware that goalkeepers operate in a particularly unforgiving position.

A mistake from a midfielder or forward can sometimes go unnoticed. A goalkeeper’s error, however, usually ends with the ball in the net.

That does not mean Donnarumma should escape criticism.

It means the response should be measured, with performances ultimately determining whether he deserves to remain first choice.

The upcoming fixtures provide an opportunity for him to demonstrate that he can respond to the pressure.

Manchester City need a goalkeeper who can provide confidence to the defenders in front of him.

They also need consistency during difficult moments, especially with the Premier League title race becoming increasingly competitive.

Maresca’s decision to continue backing Donnarumma suggests that he believes the goalkeeper can deliver those qualities.

Now, the responsibility is on the player to justify that confidence.

Maresca faces an important test of his managerial judgement

The situation also presents an interesting challenge for Maresca during his first season as Manchester City’s head coach following his appointment in June 2026.

Replacing Pep Guardiola was always going to bring enormous expectations.

City supporters want to see a team capable of competing for every major trophy, and that requires strong decisions across every position.

The goalkeeper situation is becoming one of those decisions.

Maresca must balance his responsibility to protect his players with the need to maintain high standards.

Backing Donnarumma could prove to be the correct decision if the goalkeeper responds with improved performances.

However, if the mistakes continue, the manager may face increasingly difficult questions about why he refused to consider other options.

There is also a wider issue concerning squad competition.

Manchester City cannot build a successful team around the assumption that every established player will automatically retain their place regardless of performances.

Every position should be competitive.

That is how standards are maintained at elite clubs.

What Manchester City fans are saying about Donnarumma and Maresca

The reactions to Maresca’s comments reveal three major concerns among sections of the Manchester City fanbase.

Ultimately, supporters are not simply questioning whether Donnarumma can make spectacular saves.

They are questioning whether he can be trusted to avoid preventable mistakes when Manchester City need him most.

Conclusion: City fans want performances, not promises

Enzo Maresca has made his position clear.

He trusts Gianluigi Donnarumma and believes the goalkeeper will improve after his latest mistake.

However, Manchester City supporters are not entirely convinced.

The reactions show growing frustration with the errors, questions about the manager’s willingness to consider alternatives and concerns that the goalkeeper’s impressive saves are being used to overlook his weaknesses.

Maresca may believe that publicly supporting Donnarumma is the best way to restore his confidence.

But the strongest response will not come from another press conference.

It will come from performances on the pitch.

Donnarumma has the opportunity to silence his critics, while Maresca must demonstrate that his faith in the goalkeeper is justified.

For now, one message from the fanbase stands out: Manchester City need consistency in goal, and supporters are running out of patience waiting for it.