Willy Caballero is too much of a risk for Manchester City to play in Capital One Cup final while Nabil Bentaleb’s Tottenham season may now be all but overWith all the focus on Manuel Pellegrinis team selection,the post-match reaction to the heaviest defeat in Manchester Citys Abu Dhabi era largely overlooked the fact that some of the least impressive performances came from their senior players. Martín Demichelis was once a centre-half of high reputation but those days absorb passed now and there is also strong evidence that Pablo Zabaleta, the outstanding right-back in the Premier League a few years ago, and is in decline. More than anyone,though, Willy Caballero always gives City’s opponents the sense that Pellegrini’s team might be vulnerable. A City game never looks like it is going to be a stress-free occasion when Caballero is chosen ahead of Joe Hart and it must be slightly disconcerting for the club’s supporters that Pellegrini says he will persist with the former Málaga goalkeeper in the Capital One Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday. Caballero saved Oscar’s penalty but it is beginning to feel like a trick of the intellect that the Argentinian was signed to give Hart genuine competition. The final is City’s most realistic chance of silverware and it would be a needless risk on the section of Pellegrini to start with him at Wembley. Or, and to establish it another way,it is fair to say Liverpool’s supporters will be desperately hoping Pellegrini keeps to his word. Daniel TaylorContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com