City's Maresca expects no let-up from Brighton in second straight game
· Yahoo Sports
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca expects another tough test from Brighton at the weekend as the sides meet again after a compelling cup tie.
Holders City edged past the Seagulls on penalties to reach the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium.
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After making 16 changes between them, both Maresca and opposite number Fabian Hürzeler are likely to restore full-strength teams when they renew their rivalry at the same venue on Saturday in the Premier League.
But Maresca has “no doubt” the visitors will prove just as tough to beat.
The Italian said: “They are in a brilliant moment. They are winning games, they are scoring goals. They are scoring many goals every game – three, four, five, goals a game.
“I’ve watched all their Premier League games since we started, and since the first day – against Arsenal, (Crystal) Palace, Liverpool, they always go front foot, man to man.
“We knew that this was a tough game and they’re going to be exactly the same on Saturday.”
Brighton took the game to City and struck first through Malick Yalcouye. Mateo Kovačić levelled, but the visitors regained the advantage through Georginio Rutter, who also had a shot tipped onto the bar by Geronimo Rulli and hit the side-netting after rounding the keeper.
City’s route back into the game came after the introduction of Jeremy Doku, whose arrival lifted the crowd. Vitor Reis deflected in a Rayan Cherki free-kick to take the game to penalties.
Kovačić missed from the spot but Rulli saved from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to send City through 4-3.
It was an impressive performance from Rulli in place of first-choice Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was one of five players given a brief holiday by Maresca this week.
But, despite concerns over Donnarumma’s form, Maresca made clear there was no suggestion of the Italian losing his place.
“No, absolutely not from my point of view,” said Maresca when asked if Rulli could take over as number one. “He’s working well but he knows exactly his role, and there’s not any doubt about it.”
City’s season continues under the shadow of last month’s guilty verdict on financial charges but Maresca has remained focused on on-field matters.
His side are top of the Premier League and now have a League Cup quarter-final against third-tier Bradford to prepare for.
He said: “It’s a different competition but the ambition has to be the same.
“This is a new project with new players, a new manager. It started three months ago.
“We need to do our business. That is winning games and, at the moment, we are doing that.”