Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been backed by Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca and former Blues goalkeeper David James
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Gianluigi Donnarumma has been backed to become the world's best all-round goalkeeper by former Manchester City number one David James - and Blues boss Enzo Maresca wants his players to help their Italian stopper with better decision-making.
Donnarumma has kept successive clean sheets in wins over Coventry City and FC Porto but his goalkeeping has remained in the spotlight. He almost allowed an Abdukodir Khusanov backpass to dribble over his own goal-line in the win over Frank Lampard's side while there were a couple of nervy moments in Portugal in midweek including one clearance being charged down by an onrushing forward.
City take on Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend - the opposition Donnarumma made his Blues debut against a year ago - and the 26-year-old will look to keep three consecutive clean sheets for the first time in his Etihad career.
And Maresca wants his teammates to help the Champions League winner out by only playing the ball back to Donnarumma as a last resort.
"I think a few times tonight (on Tuesday in Porto), it is not on Gigio mistake," said Maresca. "It is more for me the wrong decision to go back to Gigio.
"Sometimes we go too many times back to Gigio when we don't need. I always said that we need to go to the keeper when we don't have different options but when we have more options we don't need to go to Gigio.
"Against Coventry probably the mistake that we almost concede a goal but that is the wrong decision from Khusa (Khusanov) to play with Gigio so I am very happy with Gigio."
Former England international James, who spent two years with City during his career, feels Donnarumma is unfairly criticised for a perceived lack of ability with his feet and the former England international believes improvements have already been made in that area.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Gianluigi Donnarumma is the best shot-stopper in the Premier League," said James, speaking to LiveFootballTickets. "The amount of big saves he is capable of making in massive moments for Man City has proved that.
“I don’t think he’s as bad with his feet as people make out. He can control a pass back and find a nearby teammate with ease, and playing for Man City, I’m not sure he needs much more than that. For the most part, they are going to be building up from the back and looking to break teams down, so a basic level of passing is all he requires.
“I think his passing looked to have improved over the summer. His ability at passing the ball long distances seemed to be better than what it was last season. All Donnarumma can do is try to improve that area of his game. If he does, he’s the perfect goalkeeper. He’ll become the most well-rounded keeper in the world.”