Family rather than form is saving grace for Caballero

GIVEN what he went through when his daughter overcame cancer, Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero was never going to be fazed by goalkeeping musical chairs in Pep Guardiola’s eventful first season at the Etihad Stadium.

Last season, Caballero was No2 to Joe Hart, but also had the joy of being a Wembley cup final hero against today’s opponents, Liverpool, just a week after he’d conceded five goals at Chelsea.

The 35-year-old Argentinian must have feared slipping even further down the pecking order after Guardiola signed Claudio Bravo from Barcelona in August. But, instead, Hart went on loan to Torino and Bravo began to lose form, making Caballero No1 since the end of January, though nothing can be taken for granted after Wednesday’s Champions League exit in Monaco.

‘I am really happy that I have the shirt now,’ said Caballero (right). ‘The boss took the decision to put me on the pitch for a long run of games. It probably was a surprise for a lot of people but I’ll try to keep it for as long as I can.

‘It was really difficult to be behind Joe Hart at one stage and then Claudio arrived. But I kept working while I was on the bench, trying to see how I could improve.’

Welcoming Liverpool to the Etihad for a match that has consequences in the race for the top four will bring back happy memories for Caballero. Last February he made three saves in the League Cup final penalty shoot-out against Jurgen Klopp’s side to win his first major trophy in front of his family, including daughter Guillermina, who was diagnosed with retinal cancer in 2006. ‘The Chelsea game (City lost 5-1) had been a really bad day for me and the pressure on (manager) Manuel Pellegrini to change his goalkeeper was very big,’ he recalls about his big day at Wembley.

‘When Manuel stuck by his decision to pick me, it made me play with power and a positive attitude. I was very emotional after the game, on the pitch and for hours afterwards.’

Guillermina had chemotherapy for five years and though she permanently lost sight in one eye, today she is healthy. ‘Life is the most important. Always,’ says Caballero. l

Willy Caballero was speaking at the launch of Manchester City’s partnership with Nexen Tire.