Enzo Maresca backs Gianluigi Donnarumma to regain form after ‘some mistakes’
The Italy goalkeeper has not been at his best in recent games.
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca is confident goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will get back to his best with little guidance from him.
Donnarumma’s form has been under scrutiny after a number of mistakes in recent games.
Maresca has continued to back his first choice throughout his troubles and has no plans for in-depth conversations with his fellow Italian.
He said: “It’s much easier for me with the language! We are (having conversations) but there are players who when they make mistakes, you need conversations with them and there are players that when they make a mistake you just need eye contact to understand that he recognises and he knows.
“With Gigio it’s quite easy because every time he has made some mistake or something that was not correct, he recognises immediately.
“I spoke with Gigio but sometimes you don’t need to be so deep with some players because they know they have made a mistake and recognise that. Just try to avoid that and move on.
“Overall he’s good. He’s quite relaxed in terms of he recognises that he has done some mistakes but at the same time he has also made some good saves.
“It’s just a matter of balance – try to avoid mistakes and continue to do the right things.”
City, who have lost their last two Premier League games, travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
It will be midfielder Elliot Anderson’s first return to the City Ground since his £116million summer move from Forest.
Anderson has been in fine form and set up Erling Haaland’s winner in the midweek Champions League win at RB Leipzig.
Maresca has been impressed by how he has settled at the club.
Maresca said: “It’s a big game for Elliot but it’s a big game for all of us. He wants to understand, he wants to learn and improve and for a manager it’s a dream because you know that he wants to learn.”
City’s Nico O’Reilly has been left out of the latest England squad but Maresca is not concerned about his form.
The City boss believes the 21-year-old could benefit from a rest during the international break.
He said: “It’s what he needs. With Nico, it’s quite easy. Since we started the season, between his back (injury) before the Coventry game and some more problems unfortunately, he’s not 100 per cent.
“In the last game I really liked him, I thought he was playing a very good game and this is what we need from Nico.
“Let’s just keep him fit because we know how good he is and no doubt in the future that he will be back with the international team. Now use that break to do the right things in terms of therapy and these kind of things and be 100 per cent after the international break.”