LONDON // Goalkeeper Willy Caballero welled up on the Wembley turf after winning the League Cup for Manchester City.
The Argentine’s place in City’s starting line-up came under scrutiny after some unconvincing performances in the competition, with regular stopper Joe Hart waiting in the wings.
But manager Manuel Pellegrini stuck by Caballero for the final against Liverpool and was repaid as the 34-year-old keeper saved three shoot-out penalties for a 3-1 win after the tie had ended 1-1 after extra-time.
“It’s amazing, to win this cup, for me it’s amazing,” said a tearful Caballero on Sky Sports. “It was a hard week for me but we had a talk that we could do it. It is fantastic for the blue people.
“It’s important, emotional for me, my family, to be in this great team. It is a first trophy for me and for my family in Argentina.”
Greg Lea at Wembley: Willy Caballero Manchester City's shoot-out hero as Liverpool lose League Cup final
On his saves, he added: “I tried to see all the penalties last night, but my intuition got me through.”
Of the victory, City captain Vincent Kompany said: “It’s not the best way, it’s the most unfair way.
“There was so much emotion in this final, we were having so many chances and missing so many. We left everything out on the pitch.
“We have got experience, we looked around ourselves, we found a moment of peace and calm and kept doing what we were doing. They were playing well but we were creating chances.”
Victorious City manager Pellegrini added: “I think we deserved to win the game, we missed too many chances, played better than Liverpool.”
On sticking with Caballero, he added: “I prefer to win it this way, because I was pleased to win the title for the players, fans, the staff but for Willy.”
He added: “It’s a very important moment, and it’s always very special to win a title at Wembley.”
Losing manager Jurgen Klopp added on Sky Sports: “I’m disappointed with the end, pleased with a lot of the things I saw in the game.
“We conceded the goal but we tried everything, scored the goal. They had a few counter-attacks, we needed a bit of luck, were too open in some situations but we got back in the game.
“We had some situations, it’s unlucky, it’s one way to lose in a final, it doesn’t matter how. I don’t think we played as well as we could, nor did Man City. We shouldn’t have conceded the goal we did. It should not be a goal, everyone knows this.”
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