Enzo Maresca Defends Donnarumma and Guéhi After Costly Man City Errors Against Aston Villa

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has thrown his support behind goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and defender Marc Guéhi after their costly mistakes contributed to City’s first Premier League defeat of the season.

The defensive duo came under intense scrutiny following City’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, with errors from both players helping Nicolas Jackson score twice at Villa Park.

Despite the criticism, Maresca has refused to publicly turn against his players, insisting that mistakes are part of football and highlighting the demands placed on professionals during a packed fixture schedule.

The City boss has also praised Guéhi’s attitude and leadership, making it clear that he remains confident in the defender despite the recent criticism.

Aston Villa expose City’s defensive weaknesses

Manchester City arrived at Villa Park looking to extend their perfect start to the Premier League campaign. Instead, defensive lapses proved costly as Unai Emery’s side secured an impressive 2-1 victory.

Guéhi’s misplaced touch contributed to Villa’s opening goal, allowing Jackson to capitalise and put the hosts ahead. Erling Haaland subsequently restored parity for City, but Donnarumma was unable to keep out Jackson’s second-half effort, which slipped beneath him.

The result ended City’s run of seven consecutive league victories and raised fresh questions about their defensive reliability.

Although City created opportunities and enjoyed significant possession, they were unable to recover from the two decisive errors.

For Maresca, the priority is now to help his players respond rather than allow criticism to undermine their confidence.

Maresca sends message of support to Donnarumma

Donnarumma has faced questions about his distribution and handling in recent weeks, with the Aston Villa defeat adding to the pressure on the Italian goalkeeper.

However, Maresca has defended his shot-stopper, pointing to his performances since the beginning of the campaign and the physical demands of playing regularly.

“Gigio, since we started, is doing well,” Maresca said, according to the supplied report. He acknowledged that mistakes happen over the course of a season and stressed that the goalkeeper is aware when he has made an error.

The manager’s message was clear: one difficult performance should not erase the contribution a player has made over a longer period.

Donnarumma remains an important part of City’s plans, and Maresca’s public backing suggests the club is keen to maintain his confidence while working to eliminate costly mistakes.

Guéhi also receives backing from City boss

Guéhi has faced criticism after a difficult spell that included errors in previous matches, with his mistake against Villa bringing further attention to his recent performances.

Nevertheless, Maresca has expressed satisfaction with the defender’s response to adversity.

The City manager praised Guéhi’s character and leadership, describing him as an important figure within the squad. He also pointed to the number of minutes the centre-back has played, suggesting that the demands of a long season must be considered when assessing individual performances.

Maresca’s support comes at a time when City need stability at the back. Rather than making the mistakes a personal issue, the manager appears focused on helping his players learn from them and return to their best level.

Man City rotate as Rulli prepares for Carabao Cup start

With a demanding schedule ahead, Maresca has also taken steps to manage the workload of several senior players.

According to the supplied report, Donnarumma was among five players given three days off to recover following the Villa defeat. Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias were also reportedly given time away from training.

Maresca explained that the decision was intended to help the players recharge before returning to work.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli is expected to start City’s Carabao Cup fourth-round fixture against Brighton, giving Donnarumma a break.

Maresca has spoken positively about Rulli’s contribution behind the scenes, highlighting his professionalism and the support he provides to the goalkeeping group.

The rotation gives the Argentine an opportunity to feature while allowing City to manage Donnarumma’s workload during a busy period.

Can Manchester City bounce back?

City’s defeat to Villa has exposed areas that Maresca will want to address, particularly the individual mistakes that have allowed opponents to punish them.

However, the manager’s response indicates that he is not prepared to abandon players after a difficult run of performances. His emphasis on recovery, confidence and squad depth suggests that he believes City can correct their problems without making unnecessary changes.

The upcoming Carabao Cup fixture against Brighton provides an immediate opportunity for City to reset, while the players who featured against Villa will be expected to respond when they return to action.

For Donnarumma and Guéhi, the challenge is straightforward: learn from the mistakes, regain consistency and demonstrate why Maresca continues to trust them.

Maresca has made his position clear—he is standing by his players. Now, Manchester City must turn that support into stronger performances on the pitch.