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Cape Town - Manuel Pellegrini believes that Manchester City's penalty shootout win over Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday was a fair result.
City midfielder Fernandinho put Pellegrini's men ahead early in the second half, but an 83rd-minute strike from Philippe Coutinho levelled the game at 1-1.
Extra time was required but neither side could muster up a winner. It was left to keeper Willy Caballero to claimed the headlines as he saved three Reds penalties to help City secure a 3-1 shootout victory and claim a fifth major trophy in five years.
"We deserved to win the game, and we missed too many goals" claimed Pellegrini.
"We played better than Liverpool but I think if you tell me which way I prefer to win, I prefer to win this way.
"I prefer to lose a title than to lose my word, so Willy Caballero played tonight. I know some media were ready to criticise me if Willy made a mistake but I trust him so I am very happy to win the title for the players, the club, the fans and staff and for Willy, because he deserves it.
"I was concerned about the amount of goals that we missed. I don't remember one save during the 90 minutes from Willy, and after all they draw in the last eight minutes.
"It wasn't easy for me to make changes because we have players coming back from injury, but we finished playing better. It is a very important moment for City, we played very well. To win a title at Wembley is always very special."
Cup final hero Caballero added: "It's amazing, to win this cup, for me it's amazing. It was a hard week for me but we had a talk that we could do it. It is fantastic for the blue people.
"It's important, emotional for me, my family, to be in this great team. It is a first trophy for me and for my family in Argentina."
