Caballero: I knew Courtois would become great when I faced him at 18-years-old

Willy Caballero knew that Thibaut Courtois was destined for greatness after facing the current Chelsea number one as a teenager.

At the time, Courtois was on loan from Chelsea at Atletico Madrid, while Caballero was at Malaga before he moved to Manchester City in 2017 for £4.4 million. 

Chelsea 7/2 to win Carabao Cup

Chelsea's second-choice goalkeeper has been limited to two appearances in the Carabao Cup, but does not have any problems playing beside the goalkeeper he believes is the world's best.

"I saw him in his first season [at Atletico] and he was fantastic," Caballero told Chelsea's match day programme. "I couldn’t believe he was just 18 years old, with the kind of saves he was making and his personality. 

"He was fantastic and in that moment I saw he was going to be a great goalkeeper for many years, because not too many keepers can play at 18 years old for a big club and do it properly. You had to have character to play in goal for a club like that at that age.

"David de Gea was the previous goalkeeper at Atletico, and for Thibaut to arrive there. at a big stadium like the Vicente Calderon, wasn’t easy, but his mentality helped him to do it properly. I had a chat with him after our games against Atletico and I realised he was also a great man.

"Now I am working with him every day I see he is even better and we have a good relationship. We are laughing all the time, enjoying every day. I try to support him when he plays and he’s a fantastic guy."