Caballero backs Bravo after that ‘sweeper’ blunder at Barca

Willy Caballero reckons he could have got into the same mess as fellow Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in City’s Champions League thrashing at Barcelona.

Caballero had to come off the bench in the second half of the Lionel Messi-in- spired 4-0 Barca triumph after Bravo was sent off for handling outside the area.

Bravo was stranded outside his area and batted away Luis Suarez’s attempted lob after miscuing a kick that went straight to the former Liverpool attacker.

But the Chilean, on what proved a dismal return to his former club, had been carrying out the instructions of manager Pep Guardiola to also operate as a sweeper when he blundered – and Caballero empathised.

He said: “We take the decisions in seconds and in this case Claudio tried to keep playing, as we usually do. Unfortunately, the game switched to the side of Barcelona.

“Maybe I would have tried to do the same because our way now is to keep the ball and try to play but we are different goalkeepers. No one knows what is the best decision.

“After this big defeat we need to be compact, be together and show a good reaction.”

Caballero will now get his chance when Barca travel to the Etihad Stadium as Bravo sits out the next round of Group C fixtures in a fortnight through suspension.

But Guardiola will keep faith with Bravo after immediately backing his player and defending his desire to play out from the back.