Manchester City's second-choice goalkeeper produced two penalty saves as the Blues beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 in a Carabao Cup shootout

Manchester City goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli claims that he told Enzo Fernandez before kick-off that he would save two penalties if the Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Brighton went to a shootout. City twice found themselves behind against the Seagulls with Malick Yalcouye and Georginio Rutter putting them ahead.

City hit back through Mateo Kovacic and Vitor Reis to level the game. Eventually, penalties were required to see who advanced to the quarter-finals of the competition. When Kovacic's penalty was saved by Jason Steele, City were on the verge of exiting the competition.

But the Blues were saved twice by Rulli, who denied Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk, either side of Rayan Cherki's converted spot kick, to win the shootout. Speaking to Matchday Live after the game, Rulli reflected on a proud night for himself.

"I feel amazing, really good because I can help my teammates and it was a really, really tough night for us," he said. "At the end, winning the penalty shootout was a really, really nice feeling. For me, [penalties] is my moment. These kind of situations, I do not feel the pressure. I try to play with our fans because they are really, really important in this kind of moment.

"I know I will save penalties. Before the game, I spoke to Enzo Fernandez and I said to him: ‘If we go to penalties, I will save two,’ so I feel the confidence and really nice in these kind of situations and ready to help."

In his pre-match press conference, Enzo Maresca admitted he had spoken to Rulli about being a back-up for Gianluigi Donnarumma this season. This was further confirmed post-match when Maresca said that Donnarumma will start against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

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Rulli admitted that being a back-up is not an easy position for him. "I try to be better, day-by-day. I try to push, every single day and when I have the moment, I try to take the opportunity because my position is not so easy," he concluded.