Maresca warns Manchester City not to expect an easy game against Brighton

Enzo Maresca has warned Manchester City not to expect an easy match against Brighton when the sides meet again in the Premier League on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium.

The defending competition holders had to come from behind twice, as did Brighton, in Wednesday’s match. Rutter put Brighton back in front shortly after the break. In the shootout, Kovačić was denied by Jason Steele, but Rulli saved efforts from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to secure City’s place in the next round.

Saturday’s meeting also carries significance in the standings: Manchester City are ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, while Brighton sit third, five points behind the top two. Maresca pointed to his next opponents’ form: « Brighton are going through a wonderful period, they win matches and score goals, they even score a large number of goals in every match, three, four or five goals ».

The manager also highlighted Brighton’s approach, which he said he had watched since the start of the season. « I have watched all their Premier League matches since the start of the season, from the first day against Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Liverpool, and they always play offensively and use man-marking », he said. Referring to Wednesday’s encounter, he added: « We knew it would be a difficult match, and it will be exactly the same on Saturday ».

The two sides made 16 changes to their line-ups for the previous match. Maresca and Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler are expected to return to their first-choice players this time. « It is a different competition, but the ambition must be the same », Maresca also said. He described his side as a new project with new players and a new manager, which began only three months ago, and concluded: « We have to do our job, which is to win matches, and at the moment, we are doing that ».

Manchester City are also continuing their season after being found guilty last month of more than 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. Maresca, who has repeatedly expressed full confidence in the club’s leadership, said he remained focused on what happens on the pitch. In the League Cup quarter-final draw, City were paired with Bradford, a third-division side, at the Etihad Stadium.