Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed he does not expect to leave Moises Caicedo out of his Premier League line-up again after resting the midfielder in the 2-0 victory over Burnley. The Italian celebrated his 50th league game in charge with a third straight win but admitted his decision to bench the Ecuadorian was a one-off.
Caicedo, who had featured in all of Maresca’s previous 49 Premier League matches, was named among the substitutes as Andrey Santos started at the base of midfield. The coach also withdrew Reece James at half-time with Tuesday’s game against Barcelona in mind, highlighting the need for rotation.
Asked post-match about leaving Caicedo out after such a long run in the side, Maresca smiled and replied:
“I won’t do it anymore, it’s the last time.”
The remark underlined how central the Ecuadorian remains to Chelsea’s structure, even on a day when he was not required from the bench. Maresca explained the call as a rare chance to manage his minutes, with important fixtures looming on multiple fronts.
Andrey Santos came in and put on a Player of the Match performance
In Caicedo’s absence, Santos seized his chance with an assured display that drew praise from his manager. Operating in a deeper role, the Brazilian controlled possession, disrupted Burnley’s attacks, and was widely viewed as one of the standout performers in a controlled Chelsea win.
Maresca was keen to highlight that the 20-year-old had finally been used in his natural position. He said:
“Yeah, it was very good. Andrey’s position is the position that he played today. With us, most of the time, he plays a little bit higher, a little bit in the pocket, but it’s because in that position we have Moises.
“So we try to find solutions, space for Andrey, but we are aware and we know that Andrey’s position is the position that he played today. It was very good.”
The display reinforces Santos’s status as a credible alternative in the holding role, even if Maresca’s comments suggest Caicedo will remain an automatic selection when available. For Chelsea, having another trusted option at the base of midfield adds welcome depth as the schedule intensifies.