"It's My Moment, I Don't Feel Pressure!" - Geronimo Rulli Brimming With Confidence After Carabao Cup Heroics

"It's My Moment, I Don't Feel Pressure!" - Geronimo Rulli Brimming With Confidence After Carabao Cup Heroics Geronimo Rulli was Manchester City's hero in net against Brighton on Wednesday! More Videos The 35-year-old finally announced himself to the Etihad Stadium faithful against a well-drilled, in-form Seagulls side as Enzo Maresca and co secured a 4-3 penalty shootout triumph after drawing 2-2 in normal time. Rulli was given a rare start for Manchester City by Maresca on Wednesday night since the Argentine's arrival from Marseille in the summer to offer backup to first-choice pick Gianluigi Donnarumma. Donnarumma has been under fire for his lacklustre displays in net for the Blues in recent weeks, letting in cheap goals in City's defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa this month in a run of form marked by two losses in four games prior to the midweek cup win. Manchester City's squad underwent open heart surgery in the summer as Maresca took over from Pep Guardiola, with sporting director Hugo Viana arming the Italian with the right ammunition to challenge on all fronts after the Blues' cup double winning 2025-26 season. James Trafford joined Leeds United just 12 months after returning to the Etihad Stadium to challenge Ederson for the number one position, only to witness the arrival of Donnarumma a month after his own and be ousted by the Italy captain to be limited to cup minutes for the remainder of the previous campaign. Therefore, Rulli was brought in ahead of this season to offer cover to Donnarumma as Manchester City look to dethrone Arsenal as Premier League champions and improve on back-to-back underwhelming showings in the UEFA Champions League in Guardiola's final seasons at the Etihad Stadium. After Donnarumma and four other City players were given three days off following last week's 2-1 Premier League loss to Aston Villa, Rulli and several other fringe players were called upon to face Brighton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. City fell behind twice in normal time but took the tie to penalties courtesy of levellers from Mateo Kovacic and Vitor Reis, though Rulli was the match-winner in the end as he kept out two Seagulls spot-kicks to ensure a quarter-final berth for the cup holders. I told Enzo Fernandez before the tie I'd save two penalties in case of a shootout, says assured Rulli after Brighton win Speaking to official Manchester City media after the enthralling win, Rulli said: "I feel amazing, really good because I can help my teammates. It was a tough night for us. To win the penalty shootout is a really, really nice feeling! "It’s my moment [in a penalty shootout]. In these situations I don’t feel pressure. I try to play also with our fans. For me, they're really important in these moments. I know I'd save any penalty. Before the game I spoke to Enzo Fernandez and told him if it goes to penalties I'll save two. "I feel confidence, I feel really nice in these situations. Ready to help! When Mateo [Kovacic] missed and I saved, that's the moment when the fans tried to help and I tried to play with that. I feel really, really good in this moment, as I can help my teammates. The most important is we go through and want to go far." For all of Rulli's confidence, the Argentine will not be challenging Donnarumma for the number one spot as Maresca made clear in his post-match press conference, outlining in excruciating simplicity that Rulli is aware of his role and that he won't surpass Donnarumma in Manchester City 's pecking order. Those rooting for Rulli's upward mobility at the Etihad Stadium will be disappointed with Maresca's comments and all eyes will be on Donnarumma when the 27-year-old returns to goal against Brighton in the Premier League.