Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
There is no doubt that Chelsea are missing their star midfielder Moises Caicedo, who has played just one game this season because of injury.
Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers are flying right now. In Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Hull City last weekend, Pedro and Rogers both managed to get their names on the scoresheet, while Palmer was able to provide an assist.
The Blues now have arguably the best forward line in the Premier League, but their exciting attacking play has not come without a cost.
Defensively, Chelsea have really struggled this term, already conceding 12 goals across all competitions! They are lacking balance, which everyone is expecting Caicedo to restore once he returns from injury.
We all know that Caicedo is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, perhaps even the best, and last season he went into a bit of detail about his specific role in the team and when he chooses to cover space on the pitch.
Split image with four players, which includes: Bruno Guimaraes, Lamine Camara, Alex Scott and Manu Kone
Split image with four players, which includes: Bruno Guimaraes, Lamine Camara, Alex Scott and Manu Kone
In one matchday programme back in January, which was shared by Chelsea’s official club website, Caicedo explained: “All of us, we are important, and every player has their role. When I’m there, they know that I’m going to win a lot of balls, I’m going to make tackles, I’m going to pass the ball to the strikers. They recognise that, so it’s nice.
“I like to help my team-mates when they are running forward to try to score a goal and it’s difficult for them to come back. I like to cover that space when they go, because that’s my role. So that’s why I’m there in the middle, to see where there is space to cover.”
In the Ecuadorian’s absence, Xabi Alonso has gone with a double pivot of Romeo Lavia and Reece James in midfield. Both are exceptional players when fit, but as a midfield duo, it is just not working.
What has been even less successful is the Malo Gusto in midfield experiment. But Alonso should never have been put in this position in the first place. Chelsea really shot themselves in the foot when they sold Enzo Fernandez without having a replacement secured.
The club will blame AS Monaco for the collapse or Lamine Camara’s transfer to Stamford Bridge, but they should not have been trying to replace a £100m midfielder on deadline day. They had plenty of time to sign Camara or someone else earlier.