Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has warned his side to expect no let-up from Brighton this weekend when the teams meet again just days after a dramatic cup tie.\n<\/p>\n
League Cup-holders City edged the Seagulls on penalties to reach the quarter-finals on Wednesday after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium.\n<\/p>\n
After making 16 changes between them, both Maresca and Brighton counterpart Fabian Hurzeler are set to revert to their full-strength sides when the teams meet in the Premier League at the Etihad on Saturday.\n<\/p>\n
Table-toppers City are level on points with champions Arsenal, while third-placed Brighton are just five points behind the leading duo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey (Brighton) are in a brilliant moment,\u201d said Maresca. \u201cThey are winning games, they are scoring goals. They are scoring many goals every game, three, four, five goals a game.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve watched all their Premier League games since we started, and since the first day \u2013- against Arsenal, (Crystal) Palace, Liverpool, they always go front foot, man to man.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew that this was a tough game and they\u2019re going to be exactly the same on Saturday,\u201d added Maresca.<\/p>\n
Brighton went in front after 30 minutes when Malick Yalcouye steered Georginio Rutter\u2019s shot past Geronimo Rulli from five yards.<\/p>\n
Mateo Kovacic hauled City level 20 minutes later with a fine finish that curled into the far corner from 25 yards.\n<\/p>\n
Rutter restored Brighton\u2019s lead two minutes after half-time, slotting home from Jaouen Hadjam\u2019s cut-back.\n<\/p>\n
Vitor Reis deflected in Rayan Cherki\u2019s 72nd-minute free-kick to equalise for City. <\/p>\n
Kovacic\u2019s penalty was saved by Jason Steele in the shoot-out, but Rulli denied Brighton\u2019s Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to send City into the last eight.\n<\/p>\n
City\u2019s season continues under the shadow of being found guilty last month on over 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules.\n<\/p>\n
The club have appealed and deny any wrongdoing, but face a severe sanction unless they overturn the verdict.<\/p>\n
No punishment has yet been announced, however, and Maresca \u2014 who has repeatedly stated his complete trust in City\u2019s hierarchy \u2014 remains focused on on-field issues, with his side drawn at home to third-tier Bradford in the League Cup quarter-finals.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a different competition but the ambition has to be the same,\u201d said Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola after the Spaniard stepped down at the end of last season following a trophy-laden decade at the Etihad.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a new project with new players, a new manager. It started three months ago.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to do our business. That is winning games and, at the moment, we are doing that.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Brighton will remain in the northwest between the two games rather than travelling back to the south coast.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving two away games and not sleeping in your own bed, you can\u2019t see it as an advantage but we will try to make the best of it,\u201d said Hurzeler. \u201cWe will not try to find any excuses.\n<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe\u2019ll come back with full energy, full enthusiasm and we go on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n
AFP\n <\/p>\n
Source: <\/p>\n
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