James Trafford is England’s next No.1 in waiting – he MUST leave Man City this summer to start putting pressure on Jordan Pickford
It is just as well that City have performed so well in the domestic cups, with Trafford having the chance to play at Wembley on three occasions if his side can overcome Southampton on Saturday. All being well, he will lift two trophies under the famous arch and collect a league winners medal – not bad for a first season.
And yet Trafford came back for more than just medals, and in an open exchange with reporters in February he made it clear that he had not expected Donnarumma to join him at the Etihad Stadium and take his place in goal.
“I didn’t expect the situation to happen, but it happened, so just get on with it,” he said. “It’s happened so I work very hard every day and see what happens, give it my best shot. It’s football, it is what it is, you’ve got to keep grafting every day and the games that come, play as hard as you can. It’s just another experience to add to my career and yeah, it has been good learning.”
It sounded like Trafford had already made his mind up, even though he gave the textbook footballer response when asked if he was going to look for a new club in the summer: “Let’s take it a day at a time and try and work as hard as I can and whatever happens, happens. I’ve obviously got a contract, so I don’t know what happens next season. I just know that I’ll just take it a day at a time and try and improve.”
