Man City team news: Enzo Maresca makes clear Gianluigi Donnarumma decision after Geronimo Rulli heroics in EFL Cup

By Oliver Thomas | 29 Oct 2026 07:30, Last updated: 29 Oct 2026 07:44

Gianluigi Donnarumma volition stay Manchester City’s first-choice goalkeeper contempt Geronimo Rulli’s EFL Cup fourth-round heroics, manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed.

Rulli re-joined the Citizens from Marseille for a cut-price £1.7m successful the summertime to enactment arsenic screen for Donnarumma, but helium served announcement of his starting ambitions with an eye-catching show against Brighton & Hove Albion astatine the Etihad Stadium connected Wednesday.

Following a 2-2 gully successful 90 minutes, successful which City came from down twice, the necktie was decided connected penalties with Rulli astatine afloat agelong to support retired back-to-back spot-kicks from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk.

Rulli, making lone his 2nd quality for the club, besides made 4 saves successful mean time, including a stunning one-handed halt to contradict Georginio Rutter soon aft fractional time.

The 34-year-old played a cardinal relation successful helping EFL Cup holders Man City beforehand to the quarter-finals wherever they will look League One outfit Bradford City astatine home connected the week commencing December 14.

Donnarumma remains Man City No.1 arsenic Rulli ‘knows his role’

Prior to Rulli’s standout showing against Brighton, concerns had been raised implicit the signifier of first-choice goalkeeper Donnarumma, who has made immoderate notable mistakes successful caller weeks.

Donnarumma was 1 of 5 Man City stars near retired of the squad against Brighton and fixed an further play of rest, but helium volition beryllium backmost betwixt the sticks for Saturday’s Premier League clash against the aforesaid opponent.

Asked whether Rulli has enactment unit connected Donnarumma's starting spot, Maresca intelligibly told BBC Sport, "No, perfectly not from my constituent of view.

"He is moving well, but Rulli knows precisely his role, determination is nary uncertainty astir that. Saturday it volition beryllium Gigio positive 10."

“Apart from the penalties, wide [Rulli] was good,” Maresca reflected. “It was not casual due to the fact that they spell man-to-man, aggressive.

“First fractional we went agelong to Floyd [Samba] and 2nd fractional connected the floor. He made 1 bully prevention too. He was good.”

Rulli “ready to help” Man City aft EFL Cup heroics

Meanwhile, Rulli has talked up the value of Man City fans during the shootout and revealed that his prediction of redeeming 2 spot-kicks came true.

“For maine it’s my moment,” helium told City Studios. “In these situations I don’t consciousness the pressure, I effort to play besides with our fans. For maine they are truly important successful these benignant of moments.

“I cognize I would prevention immoderate penalty. Before the crippled I spoke to Enzo Fernandez and told him if it goes to penalties I volition prevention two. I consciousness the confidence, I consciousness truly bully successful these kinds of situations. I’m acceptable to help.

“In that infinitesimal erstwhile Mateo [Kovacic] missed and I saved, that is the infinitesimal erstwhile the fans tried to assistance america and I tried to play with that.

“That gave america vigor and confidence. It’s truly pugnacious to suffer erstwhile we person each the fans with us. This night, they were for me, 1 of the champion points successful the stadium.”

Man City volition present beryllium looking to unafraid their 2nd occurrence against Brighton successful the abstraction of conscionable 4 days and instrumentality to winning ways successful the Premier League aft suffering a 2-1 decision astatine Aston Villa past weekend.