Pellegrini came in for criticism for selecting a youthful team nearly completely devoid of recognizable names for City’s trip to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fifth round, which Chelsea won 5-1.
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Klopp called on his players to revive themselves in time to try to salvage their campaign in the Premier League and in Europe, but their were few positives for him having lost on penalties to Manchester City.
“Not everybody has to learn it like this – I won my first final”.
“It is important to continue to trust what we are doing”, he continued.
Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Leiva and Adam Lallana stepped up to take Liverpool’s spot-kicks and all but Can saw their efforts saved by opposition goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
The score was tied at one all after 90 minutes and extra time, with Fernandinho scoring for Man City early in the second half and Phillip Coutinho levelling in the 83rd minute.
Pellegrini, in fact, resisted calls to recall Hart.
“It’s fantastic for all the blue people here and it’s an emotional for me and for all my family – to be here in this team and with it being the first trophy for me. You can not say “I don’t care, it’s not important”, he said.
Despite pressure from the media to start with England global Joe Hart in goal, Pellegrini stuck with Caballero (top) who has made just four Premier League starts since moving from Spanish side Malaga in July 2014. He waited until the very end for the Liverpool players to shoot, he never guessed which way they would go, and that’s why he saved three penalties. We are working hard, in the middle of the season, it is important for us to keep fighting now.
“We missed chances but if you asked me which way I’d prefer to win I’d prefer to win it is this way”.
“You have to feel a defeat”. You need to shoot better too.
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“You know you can fall down, but you have to stand up”. Nothing is easy in this moment, but we can see if we carry on working really hard then there is new light at the end of the tunnel.
