Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has claimed that his side's triumph in the League Cup final vindicates his decision to name a weakened side in the FA Cup last weekend.
The Chilean included six teenagers and five full debutants for a fifth-round trip to Stamford Bridge, and were duly put to the sword as Chelsea ran out 5-1 winners.
However, City have since won back-to-back games against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League and Liverpool in today's League Cup final, and Pellegrini feels that the sacrifice has now been worthwhile.
Pellegrini also insists that his side deserved to beat Liverpool at Wembley having been taken all the way to penalties by Jurgen Klopp's side.
"We deserved to win the game, we missed chances but if you asked me which way I'd prefer to win I'd prefer to win it is this way," Pellegrini told Sky Sports News.
"We are working very hard. I don't remember Willy [Caballero] making one save in the 90 minutes. They draw in the last eight minutes and it was not easy for me to make a change but we finished the better.
"To win a title in Wembley is very special. We are not thinking about what we can win, we are thinking about the next game - against Liverpool - we are nine points behind the leader but we have a game in hand. I had a difficult decision with the FA Cup but I think this title and the win in Kiev support my decision."
Pellegrini also reiterated his backing of cup goalkeeper Caballero, who was preferred to Joe Hart in the starting XI and went on to save three penalties in the shootout.
Barney Corkhill
