'He knows his role' - Rulli provides heroics but no worries for Donnarumma

Geronimo Rulli's penalty shootout heroics may have put the pressure on Gianluigi Donnarumma at Manchester City, but manager Enzo Maresca has no doubt about his number one.

Rulli returned to the club in the summer from Marseille for a modest £1.7m to feature as a back-up to the Italy captain, but seemed to press his claims to challenge the jersey with an impressive display.

The 34-year-old dived full stretch to his left to save the last two penalties from Brighton's Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to allow holders City to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.

The match had ended 2-2 in normal time and would not have gone all the way had Rulli not made a sensational fingertip save to deny Georginio Rutter in the second half.

Veteran Rulli will be back on the bench though for this weekend's Premier League game against the same opposition - despite Donnarumma's form being questioned by many in recent weeks.

When asked if Rulli had put pressure on Donnarumma's spot, Maresca told BBC Sport: "No, absolutely not from my point of view.

Source: BBC Sport