5 days ago
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Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has picked up four yellow cards already in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola has backed Gianluigi Donnarumma to adapt to English officials after the Italian picked up a fourth yellow card in ten Premier League games at the weekend. Donnarumma was booked for protesting a decision towards the end of the 3-2 win over Leeds at the Etihad in what was his third yellow card for dissent; the other was for timewasting.
It leaves Donnarumma on the cusp of history: no goalkeeper in Premier League history has ever triggered a suspension for five yellow cards before. The former PSG star must then avoid one in each of the next six games if he wants to avoid that unwanted record, meaning no more Premier League bookings until after New Year's Day.
Two of the three bookings for dissent have been after goals conceded where Donnarumma - and Guardiola - have considered there to be a foul on him before the opponents have scored. The manager has previously brushed off concerns about a ban by saying that he will simply play No.2 James Trafford in goal instead.
He was in little mood to engage with questions on Monday - the first part of his press conference lasted just two minutes - but did say that he sees no reason to speak to Donnarumma about his conduct in games because the 26-year-old is 'adult enough' to grasp it himself. All he would add was that: "He will step by step understand a new league, new behaviours."
Donnarumma was at the centre of another controversy on Saturday when he fell to the floor in the second half with an apparent injury as all of his teammates rushed to get vital tactical instructions from Guardiola. Phil Foden spoke afterwards of how important the chat had been to adjust some aspects of their game, while Leeds boss Daniel Farke fumed that the officials could do nothing about it.
Bernardo Silva is also walking a disciplinary tightrope going into the Fulham game alongside Donnarumma after picking up his fourth booking of the season in the Leeds game as well. City can move to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the table if they win on Tuesday night.
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