Everton summer signing Hayden Hackney will not look forward to playing against one Chelsea star in the near future.
Everton just faced Chelsea and lost 2-0 to Xabi Alonso’s side following Pedro Neto’s brace. However, Hackney was an unused substitute on the day.
The midfielder has played against the Blues in the past, though, and met his toughest-ever opponent while doing so!
Hayden Hackney names Moises Caicedo as toughest opponent
In a video shared by the Premier League’s official YouTube account, Hackney was asked to name the best footballer he has played against. In response, the 24-year-old answered Moises Caicedo.
That is a fair answer, with Caicedo being one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. That has become very evident following his return from injury.
With Caicedo in the side, Chelsea have improved defensively and look more balanced. Their clean sheet at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last Saturday was their first in the Premier League in nine months.
Alonso’s midfield is finally working, but Chelsea still need to sign a new midfielder at the earliest opportunity. They never replaced Enzo Fernandez on deadline day, and while Jordan Henderson is performing, the England international is 36. He is not a long-term solution.
Chelsea remain firmly interested in Alex Scott, so he could be the man to come in and succeed Fernandez.
Why Moises Caicedo is such a tough opponent
Hackney will not be the last player to name Caicedo as his toughest opponent. The Ecuadorian has a skill set that makes it so difficult to play against him.
For example, Caicedo is a terrific tackler. Last season, the 24-year-old was not even at his best, or that was at least the case during the second half of the campaign, yet he still averaged 2.6 tackles per game. It was the highest in Chelsea’s squad, according to WhoScored.
Caicedo is also great at cutting out passes. His average of 1.8 interceptions was again the highest in the Blues’ dressing room.
Ultimately, Caicedo is a nuisance to play against, just ask Hackney. He can win the ball back with his tackling and break up attacking moves by intercepting the ball. It is great to have him back!