Caballero hails keeper rival at Manchester City

WILLY Caballero says he has the support of Claudio Bravo after replacing the Chilean in the Manchester City goal.

Caballero started his third successive match in Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Swansea after being preferred to Bravo by manager Pep Guardiola.

Bravo, who was controversially and surprisingly signed to supplant England No 1 Joe Hart earlier this season, has made a limited impact at the Etihad Stadium.

Caballero said: “It’s not been an easy week for him but his behaviour is fantastic. He supports me and we are working really hard and he has a competitive mind, so he’s doing very well. Claudio is a fantastic player, a fantastic keeper and we have to respect him because he is probably the keeper with more titles in his country in the last two years.”

Caballero’s run in the side started with a convincing 3-0 win at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup and continued with last Wednesday’s 4-0 Premier League victory at West Ham.

The Argentinian and City did not have things all their own way in their latest outing, however, as they were forced to rely on a stoppage-time Gabriel Jesus winner to see off the battling Swans.

Caballero, 35, said: “We put in our backpack a lot of weight when we conceded but, fortunately with Gabriel Jesus and the rest of the team, in the last 10 minutes we played with more intensity and I think that was the key.”

The victory lifted City to third in the table and back into the Champions League places. They return to action at Bournemouth next Monday and Caballero has been given no hint of whether he will remain in the side.

Ray McKinnon