Manchester City secured a second win of the Premier League season as they defeated Manchester United 3-0 in the derby.
Erling Haaland’s brace and Phil Foden’s first-half header proved to be enough to help Pep Guardiola’s team claim all three points.
It’s been a mixed start to the season for City with defeats to Brighton and Tottenham, but against the Red Devils, they looked much improved.
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Theo Walcott has hailed one of City’s summer signings and believes he could actually play such an important role for them this season.
Erling Haaland and Donnarumma during Man City vs Man United.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Theo Walcott on Pep Guardiola signing Gianluigi Donnarumma
Walcott has been so impressed by Guardiola’s signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma for Manchester City and claims it was something different from the Spanish coach.
Haaland believes Donnarumma was Player of the Match against United, despite the Norwegian striker being given the award for his brace.
The former Arsenal star was also impressed by the performance of the Italian and thinks he’s going to be a really top signing for the former Premier League champions.
Walcott told BBC Sport: “Do you know what? He won the Champions League. Everyone keeps going on about Donnarumma, yeah, of course, he’s a very good goalkeeper. He keeps it out of the net. He prevented Arsenal from going through, which frustrated me while watching that game.
Stat Total
Minutes 90
Saves 2
Goals prevented 0.14
Punches 3
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s stats vs Man United (Sofascore)
“He’s an incredible keeper, you’ve got someone like this at the back, he’s only 26. Pep’s gone a different way with the keeper, and I don’t mind that.
“You’ve seen the number of times with keepers these days on set pieces getting bullied, but nobody will bully him. He’s so commanding and has a presence. You’ve seen England taking penalties against him; he’s a big presence.”
TBR Football understands that City signed Donnarumma for £25m, and as Walcott suggests, he could end up becoming one of the best deals of the summer window.
Gianluigi Donnarumma makes ‘hell of a save’ vs Manchester United
Just after the hour mark, the Italian international pulled off a tremendous save to deny Bryan Mbeumo and Man United from getting back into the game.
On Sky Sports commentary, Gary Neville called it a ‘hell of a save’, meanwhile, Walcott said Donnarumma did an ‘incredible’ job denying the United attacker.
“It’s an incredible save. Mbeumo did everything right except score. It’s his job to keep it out of the net and, as well, he wasn’t bad with his feet today.
“I know it’s only one game but he’s a good keeper. He was always a good keeper,” claimed Walcott.