In the match itself, Sergio Aguero had forced Simon Mignolet to tip his shot onto the post, but the Liverpool goalkeeper should have kept out Fernandinho’s strike from a tight angle early in the second half.
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Daniel Sturridge’s teasing cross found Lallana at the far post and the substitute struck his close-range attempt against the post, but Coutinho made no mistake, smashing the rebound past Caballero.
The 34-year-old also thanked Pellegrini for keeping faith in him over Joe Hart for the Wembley showpiece. One week on brought vindication for the Chilean, however.
Fowler admits that Liverpool are struggling in the final third, but feels an improvement will come when key players find form and fitness in the weeks ahead. They draw in the last eight minutes and it was not easy for me to make a change but we finished the better. “You can fall, but it is how you stand up”. “I am very pleased … because he deserved it”.
It left the way for Yaya Toure to clinch it 3-1 with the decisive penalty, sparking scenes of celebration among the City players and supporters.
“Willy is a very good goalkeeper”.
“We have to play for another 36 points (in the league) yet so we are not going to give up”. After the goal we were back in the game.
It is a welcome trophy for Manuel Pellegrini who wins the trophy for the second time in three years, having triumphed in 2014 as well. It’s a cup final, and everybody wanted to win, so of course it hurts to come out as losers.
The game remained goalless in extra-time as both sides had chances at Wembley before the penalty shootout.
“It’s important, emotional for me, my family, to be in this great team”.
“It was really important that we won this trophy, for the team and for myself”.
On his saves, he added: “I tried to see all the penalties last night, but my intuition got me through”. To win this cup is incredible.
“I hope we can win more trophies”. But we have the trophy now and we have to enjoy.
After Emre Can’s confident “Panenka-style” chip down the middle, Argentinian Caballero produced three fantastic saves from Lucas, Coutinho and Lallana to tilt the balance in City’s favour.
Jürgen Klopp, by contrast, cut a dejected figure after losing his fourth consecutive final and admitted Liverpool had to learn from the pain of defeat to improve.
The defeat was particularly tough on Lucas Leiva, who performed heroically for Liverpool in an unfamiliar centre-back role before missing his penalty in the shoot-out. You hang on his every word. My whole life is preparation for all the things I say, and that’s how it is.
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DF Bacary Sagna, 7 – The Frenchman worked hard up and down the right flank, producing a number of good crosses. It’s another game and another tournament and we have to carry on. “Tonight we feel rubbish, s***”.
