Caballero the Wembley hero as Manchester City land League Cup

Reuters: Manuel Pellegrini will head to pastures new with at least one shiny memento of his final season as Manchester City manager after keeper Willy Caballero’s penalty shootout heroics sealed a League Cup final win against Liverpool on Sunday.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini celebrates

The Chilean will be replaced by Pep Guardiola at the end of the campaign but, whatever happens between now and May, he will be guaranteed an appreciative send-off after City triumphed 3-1 on penalties after the Wembley Stadium showpiece finished 1-1.

City were stretched to the limit by Liverpool but Juergen Klopp’s hopes of winning a trophy 143 days into his Anfield reign died when Caballero expertly saved spot kicks from Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana.

It was a triumph for the 34-year-old Argentine keeper, whose selection ahead of first-choice Joe Hart had been much debated by City fans, and a vindication of Pellegrini’s continued trust in the man he had chosen to keep goal throughout the Cup run.

Yaya Toure supplied the final touch, stroking home the deciding kick to give City their second League Cup in three years under Pellegrini.

Fernandinho had given City the lead after 49 minutes when his shot slipped through keeper Simon Mignolet’s grasp but Coutinho levelled late on.

“If we carry on and work really hard there is light at the end of the tunnel, but tonight we feel rubbish,” a glum Klopp told reporters.

Manchester City celebrate winning the Capital One Cup Final with the trophy - Action Images via Reuters