Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed a relaxed attitude regarding goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's disciplinary record, stating that the Italian international is "adult enough" to manage his behavior and avoid suspension. Donnarumma, a summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain, has accumulated four yellow cards in his first 10 Premier League appearances for City, with three of those cautions reportedly for dissent. A further booking would trigger a one-match ban.
Despite the risk of suspension, Guardiola indicated he would not be speaking to Donnarumma about the matter. "No, he is adult enough," Guardiola said. "He will, step by step, understand things in the league and (learn) new behaviours". Guardiola's comments suggest he trusts Donnarumma to adapt to the Premier League's officiating style and modify his reactions accordingly.
The accumulation of yellow cards has become a talking point, especially after Donnarumma received his fourth booking in City's recent 3-2 victory over Leeds United. Leeds manager Daniel Farke also accused Donnarumma of feigning an injury during the match to allow Guardiola to deliver a team talk.
When questioned about his concerns regarding Donnarumma's disciplinary situation, Guardiola responded, "Yes, I am worried about many things. This situation is already complicated". However, when asked if he had discussed the matter with the goalkeeper, Guardiola simply stated, "No".
In the English Premier League, a player is suspended for one match after accumulating five yellow cards. Should Donnarumma receive another yellow card in the upcoming match against Fulham, he would miss the subsequent game against Sunderland. If Donnarumma were to be suspended, James Trafford would step in as goalkeeper.
Manchester City faces Fulham on Tuesday, and Guardiola is hoping Donnarumma can avoid another booking to ensure his availability for the weekend clash. Beyond Donnarumma's situation, Guardiola is also dealing with other squad concerns. Midfielder Rodri is still recovering from a hamstring injury and will miss the Fulham game, with his availability for the Sunderland match also uncertain. Bernardo Silva is also one booking away from suspension.
Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming match against Fulham, highlighting their strong organization and tactical approach under manager Marco Silva. He noted Fulham's impressive performances against top teams like Chelsea and Arsenal. Manchester City has an exceptional record against Fulham, winning each of their last 18 meetings across all competitions.
