Following his move from Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea last year, Moises Caicedo gained a lot of critics.
It was hardly a surprise. Moises Caicedo cost Chelsea a British record £115m transfer fee and struggled at times during his debut season at the club.
However, Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley always believed in the midfielder, and what they said about him upon his arrival in west London has come true.
For many, Cole Palmer is Chelsea’s best player. But former Blues defender Jason Cundy thinks Caicedo is actually more important than Palmer right now.
Moises Caicedo of Chelsea controls the ball during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Chelsea FC at Goodison Park on December 22, 2024...
Photo by Jan Kruger – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley predicted Moises Caicedo impact
This season, there is no doubt that Caicedo has been one of Chelsea’s best players, perhaps even the best.
Stewart and Winstanley, who oversee Chelsea’s recruitment, were confident from the beginning that the 23-year-old would be able to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website after Caicedo officially signed, they said: “Moises has proved himself as a standout player in European football over the past 18 months, and we are thrilled to add him to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
“Moises possesses a rare midfield skill set and is a player we’ve been targeting for some time. We believe he will make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge this season — and in the years ahead.”
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Caicedo was excellent in Chelsea’s last win, a 2-1 victory over west London rivals Brentford. That night, Caicedo won possession in the final third five times, a display of his incredible ball-winning ability.
Moises Caicedo compared to Chelsea teammates
When it comes to tackling the opposition, Caicedo is way out on his own compared to his Chelsea teammates.
According to WhoScored, the Ecuadorian is making 3.2 tackles per game in the Premier League this season, which is the most in Enzo Maresca‘s squad.
Caicedo is also making 1.6 interceptions per game, which is again the highest average among the Chelsea ranks.
He is committing the most fouls, 1.9, but that is to be expected, given the nature of his role.
All in all, Stewart and Winstanley predicted that Caicedo would make an impact at Chelsea, and he has done just that this season. The Ecuador international did not come cheap at £115m, but right now he looks worth every penny.
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