Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City (1-3 PKs): Pellegrini Vindicated by Caballero Performance

Manchester City Manager Manuel Pellegrini has controversially given second-choice Goalkeeper Willy Caballero every match in domestic cup competitions the last two seasons. Caballero has had some poor outings and some howlers including one last week in the FA Cup Fifth Round loss to Chelsea. But Pellegrini has stuck with him and it paid dividends today in the League Cup Final.

"If you asked how I would prefer to win, I would have preferred to win it this way,"  Pellegrini told Sky Sports. "First of all because I prefer to lose the title than to lose my word. It was impossible for Willy Caballero not to play tonight."

"A lot of media were waiting to criticise me if Willy made a mistake and I trust him a lot. I was very happy to win the title for the fans, for the club, for the players, for the club but more than all for Willy.

"I just said I prefer to lose the title than to lose my word. We are very happy."