Geronimo Rulli Handed Brutal Enzo Maresca Verdict Despite Manchester City Penalty Shootout Heroics
· Yahoo Sports
Geronimo Rulli will not challenge Gianluigi Donnarumma for the number one position at Manchester City, Enzo Maresca has said.
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Rulli emerged as the hero on the night as City scraped past an unrelenting Brighton and Hove Albion side on penalties (4-3, 2-2 after full-time) to register a berth in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
A heavily-changed Manchester City went down twice to Fabian Hurzeler and co on Wednesday night but fought back via goals from Mateo Kovacic and Vitor Reis to take the fourth round tie to penalties at the Etihad Stadium.
Phil Foden, Enzo Fernandez, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki converted from 12 yards, with Kovacic missing but the Croatia international's blushes were spared as Rulli kept out two spot-kicks to ensure he made the most of a rare chance to impress since joining City in August.
The 35-year-old joined Manchester City from Marseille as backup to first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, with James Trafford leaving his boyhood club for Leeds United for £40 million in the summer transfer window just 12 months on from returning to Manchester from Burnley.
Donnarumma earned huge plaudits for his debut season in England under Pep Guardiola - in the Catalan's final year in charge of City before he left his role in May - but the Italy captain has come under scrutiny recently following a series of notably poor displays.
Giving away a series of cheap goals against his former employers Paris Saint-Germain in a 2-4 home defeat in the UEFA Champions League earlier this month, Donnarumma was also criticised for letting Nicolas Jackson complete a brace in Aston Villa's 2-1 win over Manchester City last week.
Maresca gave Donnarumma and four other Manchester City stars three days off after the defeat at Villa Park to 'recharge the energy' as the Blues navigate fixture congestion following a strong start to the 2026-27 season - in the backdrop of the independent panel's guilty verdict and subsequent City appeal to the same.
Rulli was called upon between the sticks in the first of two games against Brighton this week as City looked to return to winning ways at home - ahead of a Premier League meeting with the Seagulls on Saturday.
After winning his side the tie on penalties, Rulli would not be faulted for thinking he could have built on his strong showing and potentially push Donnarumma for a starting berth.
However, Maresca defied any hopes for Rulli to displace his compatriot in a press conference after Wednesday night's cup triumph, following which Manchester City will play Bradford City in the quarter-final.
"No, absolutely [not]. No from my point of view," Maresca said on Rulli possibly giving Donnarumma a run for his money. "He's working well but he knows exactly his role - and there is not any doubt about that."
Asked which of his goalkeepers will be in net against Brighton at the weekend, Maresca added: "Gigio [Donnarumma], absolutely no doubt. Saturday, Gigio plus 10 [others]."
All eyes will be on Donnarumma at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday as for all of his successes at PSG and undoubted ability in net, he needs to cut mistakes out of his game or sooner rather than later, he will be subject to competition for his place.