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Enzo Maresca was thrilled with Geronimo Rulli's match-winning display against Brighton, but he has "no doubt" about Gianluigi Donnarumma as Manchester City's number one goalkeeper.
Donnarumma was handed a rest by Maresca for Wednesday's EFL Cup fourth-round clash at the Etihad Stadium, where Rulli ultimately proved to be City's hero in a 4-3 shoot-out win following a 2-2 draw.
Brighton led twice, through Malick Yalcouye and Georginio Rutter, but City fought back, with Mateo Kovacic and Vitor Reis on target to force penalties.
Kovacic blinked first in the shoot-out, as he saw his spot-kick kept out by Jason Steele.
Rulli, though, stepped up to spare Kovacic's blushes, denying Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk, either side of Rayan Cherki converting his penalty, to seal the holders' place in the quarter-finals.
Donnarumma has not been at his best this season, and was at fault for Aston Villa's winner in City's first Premier League loss of the campaign last weekend. In fact, the Italian has already made two errors leading to goals this term, and three leading to shots.
Yet Maresca was blunt in his response when asked if Rulli could now usurp Donnarumma as first-choice.
"No, absolutely not from my point of view," Maresca said.
"He's working well, but he knows exactly his role and there is not any doubt about that. Absolutely no doubt.
"I think overall he was good, especially in the build-up. It was not easy because they are a team that goes man to man, aggressive.
"He made, also, one good save during the game and he was good."
City were fortunate, given Brighton created by far the better chances, registering 2.03 expected goals to the hosts' 0.76.
Maresca made wholesale changes, with Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and Elliot Anderson sitting out altogether, while Jeremy Doku and Enzo Fernandez came on as substitutes.
However, the City boss did not regret that decision, saying: "I was happy with the way we planned the game, with the rotation, especially I was very, very happy with the ones on the pitch."
Maresca's men will face third-tier Bradford City at home in the last eight.
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