The City manager collected the third trophy of his reign after stand-in goalkeeper Caballero, celebrating above, performed heroics to condemn Liverpool to defeat in a penalty shootout at Wembley.
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The Chilean collected the third trophy of his three-year stint at the Ettihad Stadium after stand-in goalkeeper Willy Caballero pulled off three saves in the penalty shootout.
He denied Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana as City became the first team ever to win a final against Liverpool on penalties.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said the right team won.
“When we lost that game last season it makes the team stronger and you stronger because you don’t want to feel the same”. But it’s okay. You have to feel a defeat, you can’t say “oh it wasn’t important” because it was.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said his players will have to bounce back.
“We showed passion and desire and you can’t really buy that no matter how wealthy your owners are”.
Klopp conceded that the result was a disappointment for his side, but vowed they would bounce back – starting with Wednesday night’s sequel with City in the Premier League at Anfield.
“A few words were said after the game, not many, but the few words were that we have got to push on now in the Europa League”, he told Liverpool’s official website.
“But don’t worry, we will go on, we will get better and that’s how it is”.
“We are working very hard. It is fantastic for all the blue people on this side”, Caballero said.
Despite his poor performance, Pellegrini had words of encouragement for his 21-year-old England winger whom he felt will be “a very important player [for City] for a lot of years”. The Germany worldwide has provided one assist and scored two goals in 34 appearances for Liverpool this season.
“I’m not too sure at this moment, but he looked better after the game”.
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“That’s really, really important and that’s what we know”. But two big misses from former Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling opened the door for Coutinho’s late equaliser.
