- James Trafford speaks in new interview
- Unhappy with Man City move outcome
- Aims to keep improving
James Trafford has revealed how his mentality has changed since making the move to Manchester City, which has been underwhelming so far.
When Manchester City signed James Trafford, he was expected to replace Ederson as the team’s first choice goalkeeper.
However, the 23-year-old quickly fell down the pecking order to the unexpected arrival of Gianlugi Donnarumma from PSG.
The Italian had just picked up a Champions League winners medal, so it was always going to be difficult for Trafford to get regular minutes.
Worse still, the shot-stopper started two successive losses in August, against Tottenham and Brighton respectively.
James Trafford is trying to remain positive
Despite suffering major setbacks, Trafford is working to improve his game and boost his positivity.
The England international has admitted that his mentality has varied throughout the campaign, but he is learning a lot.
🗣️ “It’s obviously been very up and down.”
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 24, 2026
James Trafford discusses his mentality this season, but says he’s staying positive in his battle to become Manchester City's first-choice goalkeeper. pic.twitter.com/Qdxa4axVyd
“It [his mentality] has obviously been very up and down throughout the season because I haven’t played too much and obviously I had a decision to make in the summer,” Trafford told BBC Sport.
“Everyone always thinks when you make decisions [for] the best possible outcome and obviously it hasn’t been the best possible outcome, but I have just tried to either improve every day and just try and stay positive, try and stay happy.
“Because throughout the year it has been such a big learning experience so the main thing I didn’t want is for it to impact your general happiness and your general feeling.”
He added: “I have had to learn a lot throughout the year and I have just tried to work as hard as I can and try and improve and win the day.”
Trafford will start this weekend
Luckily for Trafford, Man City’s next match is in the FA Cup and he has started every one of their matches in the competition this season.
Trafford kept a clean sheet in his most recent appearance and he saved a penalty in the process, as City crushed Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
Additionally, the reliable understudy kept a clean sheet when he played in the Carabao Cup final, showing he can perform even in matches where the stakes are high.
City must find a solution to Trafford’s unrest
Clearly Trafford is finding it hard at Manchester City and this is fair enough considering the treatment he has been shown.
This is a goalkeeper who is tremendously talented, and to have made four appearances in the Premier League and Champions League combined seems unfair.
Clubs from the Premier League are lining up for Trafford, despite City’s lack of interest in completing a sale.
However, the club will end up having no choice unless the cup keeper is given a proper chance in what are deemed to be the most important competitions.
Arsenal used to rotate between David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale, and perhaps this is a strategy Pep Guardiola should look into with Donnarumma and Trafford.
Cup wins are important to Trafford
According to Trafford, winning cup matches is important for more reasons than merely helping Man City have a successful goalkeeper. After all, without these fixtures, Trafford has no games to compete in.
“The cup games, you have to win! Because if you don’t win then, unless I get in in the league, which I haven’t so far, then there’s no games. But I haven’t really felt too much pressure, it’s just fun isn’t it,” he added.
“We’ve been lucky enough to get good teams [in the cups]… Since [Exeter & Salford] I think we’ve played Newcastle about 70 times, we had Arsenal, Liverpool. It’s been good we’ve had good games, which has been good for me, I’ve enjoyed it.
“From the start until December, January it was quite tough because games were every month, very far between. Since January I’ve felt like games came a lot quicker, every two weeks, which has been better for rhythm and your own head.”
