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Welcome back to The High Ground—a football newsletter that’s as inviting as scoring an open goal.
Transfers are rarely just about filling holes. They’re about philosophy, about a manager’s footballing religion. And if you’ve watched Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City sides over the past eight years, you know he’s had a holy trinity: positional play, control through possession, and a goalkeeper who can pass like a No. 10.
That last one — embodied by Ederson — is suddenly gone.
Because this summer, City broke from their script. They sold Ederson to Fenerbahçe and brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG. Yes, the same Donnarumma whose greatest strength is not his distribution, but his reach, reflexes, and old-school shot-stopping.
So what does this mean? Did Guardiola betray his own principles? Or is this the tactical flex of a coach who’s still two steps ahead of everyone else?
Let’s break it down
Why Ederson Was Irreplaceable
Ederson wasn’t just a keeper — he was City’s launchpad.
Passing range: From disguised five-yard slips to Kevin De Bruyne, to 70-yard bombs to Sterling or Haaland.
Calm under pressure: Pressed by Liverpool’s front three? He’d chip over them with a grin.
Tactical unlock: City could essentially play with 11 outfielders. Opponents had to choose between pressing high (and risking one ball over the top) or sitting back (and conceding possession forever).
Statistically:
Ederson averaged 28.9 passes per 90 in the Premier League last season, with an 89% completion rate.
His long passing accuracy (54%) was the highest among top-six keepers.
City conceded the fewest shots per game in Europe (7.8) — not just because of defenders, but because Ederson prevented teams from building pressure at all.
In short: he wasn’t just a keeper, he was City’s system.
Enter Donnarumma
On paper, Donnarumma looks like the anti-Ederson.
Shot-stopper: One of the best pure reflex keepers in Europe. At PSG last season, he saved 6.2 goals above expected (xGP) — top 5 in Ligue 1.
Size: At 6’5”, he’s a nightmare in aerial duels and set pieces.
Distribution: Here’s the catch. His pass completion under pressure was 12% lower than Ederson’s. He prefers long clearances over progressive passes.
Pep doesn’t usually sign players who don’t fit his passing gospel. Which begs the question: why?
A Tactical Downgrade… or a Flex?
There are two theories here:
1. Guardiola is compromising.
After facing tough opponents in recent Champions League and Premier League campaigns who exploited City’s high defensive line, Pep may have decided to adjust his approach. Donnarumma offers City a new dimension—his elite shot-stopping and physical presence could allow City to take calculated risks elsewhere, rather than simply prioritising raw defending.
2. Guardiola is evolving.
This is more intriguing. Pep may be planning to double down on John Stones’ hybrid role, Rodri’s distribution, and even goalkeeper-less buildup. In other words: maybe Pep believes City don’t need a playmaking keeper anymore. Maybe he thinks Donnarumma’s shot-stopping actually frees him to take bigger risks elsewhere.
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By the Numbers: Ederson vs Donnarumma
Passing (2023/24):
Ederson: 28.9 passes/90 | 89% completion | 54% long pass accuracy
Donnarumma: 20.4 passes/90 | 80% completion | 39% long pass accuracy
Shot-Stopping (2023/24):
Ederson: -0.8 xGP (saved slightly fewer than expected)
Donnarumma: +6.2 xGP (among Europe’s best)
Sweeper Actions (outside box/90):
Ederson: 1.15
Donnarumma: 0.39
In short: City lose distribution, but gain elite shot prevention.
System Shock: How City Might Adapt
Deeper Build-up: Donnarumma won’t start every attack. Expect Stones and Rodri to take more responsibility in first-phase buildup, with Akanji’s departure to Inter opening opportunities for other defenders to step up.
Less Risky Passing: City might abandon those high-wire diagonals from keeper to winger. Instead, they’ll progress in shorter, safer triangles.
Set-Piece Dominance: Donnarumma’s presence means City can be more aggressive defending set pieces — something they quietly struggled with last season.
Higher Defensive Line: Weirdly, Donnarumma’s size may tempt City to hold an even higher line, trusting him to bail them out in one-v-ones.
High Ground takeaway: This is Pep Guardiola’s riskiest move since he benched his striker in a Champions League final.
If Donnarumma integrates, City become more versatile. They’ll still suffocate teams with possession, but now they’ll have insurance when chaos hits.
If it fails, though? City lose their biggest cheat code: a goalkeeper who made them untouchable in buildup.
For Guardiola, who built his empire on control, this is a philosophical test. Can he finally embrace imperfection — and still win?
