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.