Enzo Maresca is happy with Manchester City’s performance against Brighton on Wednesday despite only narrowly winning on penalties thanks to Geronimo Rulli’s heroics.
City won 4-3 on penalties after coming from behind twice to draw 2-2. Rulli, their reserve goalkeeper, saved efforts from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to send them through.
Maresca made as many as nine changes for the tie, with Erling Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson and Josko Gvardiol among those he gave some rest. The head coach said he had no regrets about the rotation despite how tough the contest was.
“I was happy with the way we planned the game, with the rotation, and especially I was very, very, very happy with the ones that were playing,” Maresca said.
Rulli, who deputised for Donnarumma, also earned praise for his performance before the shootout.
“Apart from the penalties, I think overall he was good, especially in the build-up,” Maresca said. “He also made a good save.”
The manager said City had “never practised penalties” since he took charge, and then praised the five City players who took their kicks, including Mateo Kovacic, whose miss did not prove costly.
“We’re very happy with the five, even Mateo,” Maresca said. “It always happens, the one that scored during the 90 minutes, and then misses the penalty.”
Kovacic had brought City level before half-time after Malick Yalcouye gave Brighton the lead. Georginio Rutter restored the visitors’ advantage after the break and came close to extending it, with Rulli tipping one effort on to the crossbar before the Brighton forward struck the side-netting.
City needed a late response to avoid elimination. Jeremy Doku came off the bench and made an impact, and Vitor Reis turned in a free-kick from Rayan Cherki to take the tie to penalties.
“I’m not sure [Doku] changed the game, but for sure he made an impact,” City’s manager said. “This is the reason why they are there – when they start from the beginning, to try to do their best, and if they go on from the bench, to try to make an impact.”
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler felt his side had done enough to win the match before the shootout. The visitors made seven changes of their own but were left to rue their missed chances and the goals they conceded.
“We lost in a shootout. We had enough chances to win the game but the goals we conceded were very unlucky,” Hurzeler said.
“They had the luck today. We have to reset. We have a great chance on Saturday to take revenge.”
Brighton return to the Etihad on Saturday for a Premier League meeting with City. Hurzeler said he would not blame individual players for missed chances or penalties.
“We will never blame players who miss chances or miss penalties. It is a team sport and we stick together,” he said. “I saw a team who tried hard and a team who gave everything, also out of possession.”
