"I would rather lose a tournament than break my word to a player"

[Three_Hat-tricks]

Everything I love about this beloved club of mine encapsulated in one sentence. Knowing Pellegrini as I think I do, he would probably have said that had we lost the game too. Full respect.

 

[Callygan66]

True gentleman

 

[Eaglechief]

I'm usually hyper-critical of Pellegrini, but I must admit my estimation of him increased when I heard he kept his promise to Willy, rarely do you get that sort of loyalty in these days.
Fair do's to Manuel for that (let's just hope you don't balls it up for Wednesday now please) :)

 

[Ric]

Very few of us, including myself, supported Pellegrini's decision to start Caballero, but he's been vindicated in a huge way.

It's easy to say with hindsight, and the reaction to that quote would have been very different had we lost, but you have to admire Pellegrini's loyalty, and indeed balls, for making that call.

 

[stony]

It's the sort of sound bite that is fucking brilliant when you've just won a cup, but I would have been fucking furious if his decision to play Willy had cost us the cup. Fair play to him though, he stuck to his guns and it paid off handsomely.

 

[ayrshire_blue]

Great respect for that.

It's easy for us to judge as fans, but post match when Caballero was interviewed and was talking about his family being there to witness him win his first ever trophy, it nearly brought a tear to my eye and I'm not afraid to admit that.

Well done Pellegrini and well done Caballero. You both epitomised everything that is good about this brilliant football club.

 

[Eccles Blue]

I just love Mr Pellegrini & am still gutted he's leaving us! A true, true gentleman & even if he had been wrong & we lost he would still have had my respect for his stand.

 

[Len Rum]

Winner takes it all.
Pellers the winner.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

That's why we need to stick together and have faith. For me supporting City has always been about swimming against the tide. I'm gutted Manuel is leaving. He is perfect for City but I'm sure he feels Pep can continue to help the club grow. He takes so much crap in press conferences and at games and on these forums. I hope he wins 2 more trophies with us. People call him stubborn, boring and tactically clueless. For stubborn try confident. For boring try calm. For tactically clueless try 100% steadfast in his beliefs.

 

[Mr HJ]

Three years seems to the modern life cycle of a manager these days. Manuel has ensured he will always be fondly remembered by everyone at our great club - but when someone of Pep's calibre is available you don't change plans, you move to the next level. So glad that we have actually won a trophy for him this year, hopefully we will still have a big say in the title then he will move to another club preferably in Spain.

 

[BigBluey]

I would like to admit I was so wrong about cabellero. Pellers got it spot on and proved all the doubters wrong.

Well done Blue Boys and especially Cabellero who was magnificent .

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

I jokingly said, I never doubted Willy and he was going to win it for us before the pens, had a few people tell me I called it after but I was bullshitting all the way!!

 

[cleavers]

We shouldn't forget that Willie actually played well before the shoot out too, the decision was vindicated before the three penalty saves for me.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

And heres me thinking nice guys don't win , well done MP , proved a lot of people wrong today.

 

[Ric]

We shouldn't forget that Willie actually played well before the shoot out too, the decision was vindicated before the three penalty saves for me.

Yes, that's been forgotten somewhat. He didn't really put a foot wrong.

 

[Dribble]

Given the choice, I'd rather the trophy. History won't recall his loyalty only the medals won. Harsh but true.

 

[Ric]

Given the choice, I'd rather the trophy. History won't recall his loyalty only the medals won. Harsh but true.

As he actually won the trophy, then we can all be happy. It was a big call that paid off, and I guess that's what top managers do.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Very few of us, including myself, supported Pellegrini's decision to start Caballero, but he's been vindicated in a huge way.

It's easy to say with hindsight, and the reaction to that quote would have been very different had we lost, but you have to admire Pellegrini's loyalty, and indeed balls, for making that call.

I definitely wanted Hart to start.
I disagree with Pellers making the deal in the first place but if he made the deal, then it is fantastic that he kept the deal. Far too many peoples word is no longer their bond in this day and age.So on that point well done Pellers. Chuffed for them both.
And hey he made 3 great saves in the shoot out to win it in the end.

 

[KCblue]

I truly think Caballero had all the confidence in the world with Pellers sticking by his decision to play him in the final. He was composed in net and had an incredible performance, justifying his selection. Well done Manuel and well done Willy.

 

[Dribble]

As he actually won the trophy, then we can all be happy. It was a big call that paid off, and I guess that's what top managers do.

That's not the point or the question though. The point was 'Manuel would rather lose the tournament than not keep his word to Willy'.

Personally, I'd rather the trophy