Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Man City's Willy Caballero: Penalty save made up for error vs. Monaco

MANCHESTER -- Willy Caballero was delighted to make up for his first-half error in Manchester City's Champions League victory over Monaco on Tuesday with a crucial penalty save.

The City goalkeeper, who was again preferred to summer signing Claudio Bravo, admitted he was at fault with a misplaced clearance that led to Radamel Falcao's first goal.

But Caballero made up for the mistake in the second half when he kept out Falcao's spot kick, which would have put the Ligue 1 leaders 3-1 ahead early in the second half.

Pep Guardiola's side went on to win an incredible game 5-3 and Caballero praised City's fighting spirit.

"From my point of view, it was a crazy night. It was a fantastic game for the supporters but for the players I think it was a little bit crazy," he told reporters.

"I have to be honest when I make a save and when I make a mistake. I made a little bit of a mistake and they scored the first goal so we finished the first half losing because they got the confidence they needed.

"But we solved this sort of mistake because the spirit and talent of this squad is fantastic."

Caballero also saved a penalty from Neymar in City's 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in October while his predecessor Joe Hart had saved the three previous penalties he had faced in the Champions League.

Caballero revealed that he had studied videos of penalties taken by Falcao ahead of the game.

"I had studied it [Falcao's penalties] with our goalkeeper coach Xabi [Mancisidor] in preparation for the game but you always have to be cautious because it's never a certainty," he said. "He tried to get me to dive first but I waited and took the right decision to save the penalty."

Caballero believes City are in a good position ahead of the second leg against Monaco on March 15 but says they need to tighten up defensively if they are to progress to the quarterfinals.

"We have to improve a lot in our defence, if not it's going to be another crazy game. We don't want it, we don't need it," he said. "If you win the first game, you are in a good position to go the distance. But it's not enough because they have a good team and fantastic strikers."

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