Manchester City have pitted Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford against each other but the club will be weaker without the competition
There was amusement at Manchester City after the Carabao Cup final at how much emphasis had been put on Arsenal picking their second-choice goalkeeper as the reason for the defeat. Many making the point failed to acknowledge that James Trafford was not a regular starter for the Blues.
When the teams played each other a month later in a pivotal Premier League battle, not even a howler from City’s No.1 could stop them from beating Arsenal again despite the Gunners having David Raya in net for this one. Gianluigi Donnarumma atoned for his first-half error with a big second half to see City beat their biggest rivals again.
City may not have had enough to best Arsenal over 38 Premier League games but they did have a better goalkeeping department for all competitions. As they should have done, given Trafford was good enough to be a No.1 before Donnarumma was signed on the final day of the transfer window.
It may not have been an easy situation to deal with, particularly for Trafford, yet it gave City immense confidence for any competition. Trafford was excellent in the cups when he came in, giving considerable strength to sides that usually featured plenty of rotation that really did make a difference against good opposition.
The debate between City fans over which goalkeeper they prefer can have some pretty strong opinions, but the quality of both means that the competition was always going to be short-lived. The Blues arguably boast the strongest pair of goalkeepers they have ever had, yet it is because of that that it cannot last.
Trafford is expected to make a decision over his future after the World Cup finishes and the former Burnley stopper has spoken this summer of the importance of playing every week in order to challenge for an England shirt. Enzo Maresca’s arrival at the Etihad has some Trafford supporters dreaming that he could oust Donnarumma, but regardless it feels impossible that City will carry on with both keepers again this season.
A bit like an Erling Haaland back-up, finding a No.2 that is capable of being a No.1 but is happy not to be is a difficult role to fill and one where regular replacements are needed. City have been aware for some time that they will need to be active this summer, yet that does not make the task of finding such a specialist any easier.
Pierce Charles looks set to sign from Sheffield Wednesday to bolster the ranks, although City will need to find someone with much more experience as a No.2 to avoid making their task more difficult in the cup competitions. A new goalkeeper may not feel like City’s priority in the transfer window, but it could decide how far they go in defending the two trophies they won last season.
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