Moises Caicedo has acknowledged there are important lessons to be learned from Chelsea's defeat to Flamengo in the Club World Cup on Thursday night.
In what turned out to be a disappointing second half for the Blues in Philadelphia, Enzo Maresca's side relinquished their lead and ultimately lost 3-1 to the Brazilian outfit, finishing the match with 10 men.
Chelsea's woes were compounded within a frantic six-minute window. Not only did the West Londoners concede two goals, but Nicolas Jackson received a red card for a rash challenge, just four minutes after coming on for Liam Delap.
This defeat leaves the west Londoners in second place in Group D. Having recorded both a victory and a defeat, Chelsea face a tough journey ahead in the tournament, which could include a tie against Bayern Munich in the round of 16.
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The FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 of the world's best club teams including Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG andBayern Munich play across 63 games from June 14-July 13.
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Speaking to reporters after the game, as quoted by the Press Association, Caicedo said: "It was difficult to take, but now we are focusing on the next game. For sure, we need to learn from this game. We need to react."
On the match dynamic, the Chelsea midfielder added: "I think the team played well, but you need to be focused for 95 minutes in this game because, in one second, you can lose the game, and that was what happened."
While Flamengo initially lacked a decisive touch in the opening half, exhibiting more energy than precision, it was Chelsea who seemed to pose more of a threat, particularly through quick counter-attacks.
Caicedo battles for the ball
Caicedo battles for the ball (Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Delap, who made his first start since joining from Ipswich Town for just £30m, battled well, leading to Pedro Neto's breakaway run and exceptional finish on the 14th minute to give Chelsea the lead.
The contest intensified, and the scales tipped in Flamengo's favour when Bruno Henrique levelled the scoreline shortly after the hour mark. His goal was swiftly followed by Danilo's strike to put the Brazilians in the lead.
Chelsea were still recovering when Jackson was given a straight red card for a reckless studs-up tackle on Ayrton Lucas. This marked his second dismissal in just four appearances for the club, effectively ending their chances of a comeback.
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Wallace Yan put the third and final nail in the Blues' coffin with a goal seven minutes before the final whistle. Enzo Maresca attributed the loss – and a muted display from Cole Palmer – to tactical experimentation ahead of the upcoming season.
The Chelsea manager said: "It's not just about Cole. In the last two days we tried something completely different. For the first time we played in a different structure, just to prepare also for next season, to have more options
"I think the plan was quite good for one hour until we conceded the goal, but I think at the end they deserved to win the game. Flamengo are a very good team with good players, with a good manager. They played very well."
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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