Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Gianluigi Donnarumma remains his preferred goalkeeper despite leaving the Italian on the bench for the club’s Carabao Cup victory over Brighton.

According to a report by FootballTransfers on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Maresca intends to continue trusting Donnarumma despite several mistakes that have attracted criticism this season. The manager’s decision comes after Geronimo Rulli delivered an outstanding performance in City’s cup encounter, raising questions about whether the Argentine could challenge for the starting position.

City secured their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after overcoming Brighton in a penalty shootout. Rulli played a decisive role in the victory, saving two spot-kicks and producing an important stop against Georginio Rutter during normal time.

His contribution prompted speculation about whether the goalkeeper had done enough to earn further opportunities in the first team. However, Maresca quickly moved to clarify the situation, insisting that Donnarumma would return to the starting lineup for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the City manager dismissed suggestions that Rulli’s performance had changed the established goalkeeping hierarchy. He praised the Argentine’s professionalism and explained that the player understood his responsibilities within the squad.

Maresca also made clear that Donnarumma would be selected alongside the club’s other starting players for the weekend fixture. His comments indicated that the Italian international continues to enjoy the manager’s confidence despite the scrutiny surrounding his recent performances.

The former Chelsea coach acknowledged that Donnarumma had committed errors during the campaign but argued that mistakes were an unavoidable part of football. He also pointed to the demands of a busy season, during which players are required to maintain high standards while dealing with frequent matches and intense competition.

Although the criticism has continued, Donnarumma’s underlying statistics suggest that his performances have not been entirely disappointing. FootballTransfers reports that the goalkeeper has recorded a positive goals-prevented figure of 0.53 this season. The statistic indicates that he has prevented slightly more goals than expected based on the quality of the shots he has faced.

Nevertheless, City’s decision to sell James Trafford to Leeds has become a significant part of the discussion surrounding the club’s goalkeeping department. Trafford has reportedly prevented 1.96 goals this season, giving him the second-highest figure in the Premier League according to the cited statistics.

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen leads that measure with 2.32 goals prevented, further highlighting the performances of goalkeepers who have made a notable impact for their respective teams.

Trafford’s numbers have renewed debate about whether Manchester City made the right decision in allowing him to leave. The discussion has become more prominent as Donnarumma faces criticism for individual errors and supporters assess the club’s available options between the posts.

However, Maresca’s latest comments suggest that he has no immediate intention of changing his preferred goalkeeper. The manager appears satisfied with Donnarumma’s overall contribution and remains prepared to give the Italian further opportunities to demonstrate his quality.

Rulli’s display against Brighton has strengthened the competition within the squad and provided City with a reliable alternative when required. Even so, his impressive cup performance has not displaced Donnarumma from the manager’s plans.

As City prepare for their next league encounter, Donnarumma will have another opportunity to reinforce his position as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, while Rulli’s contribution is likely to remain an encouraging sign of the squad’s depth.