After a strong performance in the midfield during Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Tottenham, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez called the Moises Caicedo “a beast.” Caicedo notably took the ball away from Micky van de Ven to set up Joao Pedro’s game-winning goal in the 34th minute, helping Enzo Maresca’s team move into the top four.
After the game, Maresca said that Caicedo was one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. This was in line with other opinions that named him Player of the Match and praised his ability to win the ball back as the key to Chelsea’s control.
Meanwhile, Sanchez only had to stop one shot on goal because Spurs had trouble getting through. Speaking about Caicedo’s impact after the match, the goalkeeper said:
“He’s an actual animal! He’s the best player playing in his position anywhere. Who’s better than him in that position? He’s a beast. Every challenge, every 50-50, he wins it. His composure on the ball, his finishing…if he strikes it on target it goes in!”
Sanchez continued:
“I knew him at Brighton when he wasn’t even playing at Brighton. I remember speaking to him at lunch about whether he was going to go on loan or not. He took his chance and since then he’s been flying, getting better and better. He’s still only 24.
“He hasn’t changed much. As a character he’s always been the same, about hard work and effort, and quiet. A very good guy. Obviously he’s filled out a bit more with age, and with experience he’s got better and better on the pitch. His confidence has got higher and higher.”
Chelsea beat Tottenham 1-0 on the road
On November 1, Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 1-0 thanks to Joao Pedro’s goal in the 34th minute. The visitors took control of key moments of the game, kept Spurs from becoming a major threat, and moved up to the same number of points as their rivals in the Premier League table.
Tottenham took only one shot on goal and had an expected goals of 0.05, the lowest of the season in the league. Guglielmo Vicario made saves from Pedro and others to keep the score from getting too high, while Robert Sanchez didn’t have to do much work in goal.
Thomas Frank’s Tottenham lost their third home league game of the season because they couldn’t get past Chelsea’s press. The Blues made more valuable chances and kept forcing Spurs to turn the ball over during their buildup. Spurs didn’t connect many passes into the penalty area and didn’t do much with open play.