Maresca keeps Donnarumma in his starting side against Brighton

Ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Brighton, Enzo Maresca confirmed that Gianluigi Donnarumma would start for Manchester City. The Italian manager also made clear that the goalkeeper does not have an untouchable status. The match will be played at the Etihad Stadium.

Maresca explained the distinction between backing his goalkeeper and giving anyone a permanent guarantee in the team. “I think there is a difference between saying that at this moment the team is Gigio + 10 players, and saying he is an untouchable player; they are two completely different things. No player can be ruled out, but at the moment I see the team as Gigio + 10 players,” he said.

The fixture follows Brighton’s penalty-shootout defeat to Manchester City after a 2-2 draw. Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler had said he wanted revenge. Maresca played down those remarks while anticipating another difficult contest. He also referred to the standings, where the opposition sit third.

“It will be a difficult game again. Whether the opponent plays in a different competition or with a different team, they always try to take the initiative and press to attack. They have many attacking players and create a lot of chances, but we will try to do our best to win. As for the talk about revenge and those things, that concerns them, not us,” Maresca said.

Asked about the claim that City had been lucky in the cup match, he replied: “That is what he said, and every coach has his own opinion and view of things based on what he sees with his own eyes. I respect what he said, and we are preparing for the match and working in the best possible way to keep winning.”

At the press conference, Maresca also spoke about Jack Grealish, who is on loan at Everton and was left out by the club for a disciplinary offence. He declined to assess whether the former player could return to his top level, but expressed his regard for him: “I still think he is a good boy, that he has a big and wonderful heart; I really still believe that.”