Enzo Maresca says Manchester City's fringe players showed they are ready to contribute as the Blues look to keep delivering silverware for their supporters. The much-changed side beat Brighton on penalties to book a home quarter-final against Bradford.
Rotation pays off in penalty shootout
Pep Guardiola won five Carabao Cup titles in his 10 years at the club, and Maresca's side progressed after coming from behind twice before winning the shootout. The manager rested five of his best players from the squad and left several other stars on the bench, but those on the pitch rallied to secure victory.
With Arsenal losing the previous night at League Two side Fleetwood and Liverpool knocking Chelsea out, the competition has opened up for the defending champions with just eight teams left in.
Manager praises individual performances
Maresca said there was no point in the night where he regretted making so many changes and praised those who came into the XI. For all the new faces at the club, they remain intent on winning trophies.
"It's a different competition but the ambition has to be the same: this is a new project, new players, new manager started three months ago and we need to do our business and that is winning games. At the moment we are doing that," he said.
"Marc, the captain after two complicated games, I think he was very good. Rayan was good, Phil good. Mateo was very good. Vitor was very good, Rico and Nico."
"Some of them are not playing many minutes and it is important that when we need them they are ready and tonight they were all ready. I was happy with the way we planned the game with the rotation and I was very happy with the ones that played at the pitch."
