WILLY: MY GIRL’S CANCER BATTLE
WILLY CABALLERO has revealed how his daughter’s brave battle against cancer showed him football really isn’t a matter of life or death.
The Manchester City keeper opened up his heart about how daughter Guillermina, who is now 14, was diagnosed with the disease in both eyes in 2006 during his time with Spanish club Elche.
It took five years for Guillermina to eventually beat the disease and lost one eye during the struggle.
But it was seeing his wife and two girls celebrate his penalty shoot-out heroics against Liverpool in last season’s Capital One Cup Final that reduced Caballero to floods of tears.
Caballero said: “My daughter had cancer in both eyes – and we could save just one.
“The treatment was chemotherapy to try to protect both eyes. But, in the end, the doctor had to give her surgery and she lost one eye.
“After that, the doctor had to be careful with the other eye and it took a long period for them to say she was safe. It was four or maybe five years.
“That’s why I say that life is the most important thing. Always. When you are in a team sometimes you hear people complaining about small things. It is just not necessary.
“I wouldn’t wish what happened on anyone, but it was my life. We are safe and we are enjoying our days here in Manchester. Guillermina is happy and that is the most important thing.”
It is just over a year since Caballero became the most unlikely of City heroes, after then-boss Manuel Pellegrini stuck by the under-fire Argentine at the expense of Joe Hart.
Caballero saved penalties from Lucas, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana to ensure City prevailed.
Caballero said: “It was an emotional moment. The previous week before the final was difficult... the pressure on Manuel to change the keeper was very big, but when he told me that I would be playing at Wembley, it made me feel even stronger.
“I had played in all the cup games and it made me play the game with power and with a positive attitude.”
Caballero (right) has emerged as Pep Guardiola’s No.1, following the decision to send Hart to Torino on loan and the poor form of £17million Claudio Bravo.
And Caballero, 35, who has not been told whether his contract will be extended, when it expires in the summer, said: “I have the shirt now and I am going to try and keep it.”
Caballero was speaking at the launch of Manchester City’s partnership with Nexen Tire; the first Premier League club sleeve partnership to be announced.
Anfield legend Rush has backed Gerrard’s decision to turn his back on high-profile offers to learn his trade as a coach and future manager at the Liverpool Academy.
Under Klopp’s (inset, below) watchful eye Gerrard is making a huge impression, helping to nurture some of the club’s youngsters.
Rush said: “Only Steven knows whether he sees himself as a future Liverpool manager. He’s intelligent and I believe he’s going down the right path.
“He went to LA Galaxy to keep playing, came back and called time on his playing career. I know he had loads of offers, including going to China and managing MK Dons. He was right not to rush any decision and analyse what he really wanted.
“He will have a year or two in the academy and then stepping into management will be his next ambition. I think Jurgen Klopp has done well to welcome him back, get him coaching in the academy.
“It means he isn’t being flung in at the deep end of coaching or managing, which would have been the case at MK Dons. You start losing games and the pressure is immediately on you, whereas in the academy it’s not so much about results, it’s about developing players.
“He deserves enormous credit for turning his back on the high-profile jobs to learn the ropes the old-fashioned way, if you like.”
Gerrard will be back in the limelight on Saturday when a sold-out Anfield pays homage to the stars of the past in a game between the Liverpool legends and Real Madrid legends.
The 36-year-old former Liverpool skipper is in a side managed by Rush and will include Robbie Fowler, Jamie