MANCHESTER, England -- Willy Caballero admits he is still getting to grips with Pep Guardiola's system despite being picked ahead of Joe Hart for the Spaniard's first game in charge.
Guardiola left out some big names from his starting XI in Manchester City's Premier League clash with Sunderland, which they won 2-1 thanks to a late own goal from Paddy McNair.
Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Eliaquim Mangala were all missing from City's 18-man squad, while England keeper Hart was left on the bench with Caballero starting.
Guardiola, who has been repeatedly linked with a move for Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen, wants his keepers to be comfortable on the ball.
Caballero hooked an early clearance straight to Sunderland striker Duncan Watmore and says he and the defence are still getting used to the new passing game.
"Sometimes we are taking risks when we pass the ball in our back and my first pass was really, really complicated because they could have scored," the Argentine told reporters.
"But after that, we played really better from the back and we can start playing as the boss wants, but we need minutes -- we need minutes together.
"Two or three players have arrived in the last week -- John [Stones] played like he has been here for the last three or four years. It's important to play together.
"We need games and minutes together to have experience together and to have rhythm and to play more better if we can."
Hart only played 45 minutes in preseason after being given extra time off over the summer after playing at the European Championship with England.
And Caballero, who admitted he was surprised to start against Sunderland, said Guardiola had faced a tough decision on his team selection.
"For sure, it's very tough in this situation for me, for Joe, for the fans, for everything. But I just tried to think and enjoy this opportunity and the most important thing is that we won as well," he added.
"It doesn't matter who played and when Joe has the opportunity, I think he will enjoy it as well as me.
"I try to show to Pep and all my players and all the City fans in every single day that I have had in the last three years.
"But this kind of decision is for the boss and for the club, the most important thing for me is to just enjoy this game that I had and that I keep improving and keep trying to play as the boss wants to play."