Chelsea have capped off their season with some silverware after winning the Europa Conference League.
The Blues have had an up and down season to say the least. Chelsea looked like title contenders at one point before the turn of the year, but, since Christmas, their form has tailed off.
However, Chelsea finish the season as Champions League qualifiers and Conference League winners, and there are a lot of positives to take away from this season.
Certain players haven’t been great – Robert Sanchez has been heavily criticised this term, but other players have been excellent.
Cole Palmer has been fantastic as always this year, and speaking on the Obi One Podcast, John Obi Mikel has reserved some special praise for Moises Caicedo.
Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
John Obi Mikel says Moises Caicedo has proven people wrong
Mikel spoke about Caicedo as he built his Premier League Team of the Season.
The pundit says Caicedo has been excellent this term, noting that he gets in his team all day long.
On top of that, Mikel said that the Ecuadorian has proven a lot of his doubters wrong after last season.
“Caicedo gets in. Caicedo gets in my team all day long. He gets in my team. He gets in my team all day long,” Mikel said.
“What a season. Performance is week in, week, week in, week out. Eight of a ten, nine of a ten.
“Week in, week out. It’s not been a game I watch this season that he doesn’t get a seven, eight, nine out of ten. Absolutely machine of a player.
“When we got him, first couple of games, yes, was just finding his feet. Everybody was, oh, a hundred million. He’s been a flop.
“It just shows what patience and time does for a player. And he’s had that and he’s managed to turn it around. Every time I watch him, you know, solid.
“The way he goes in to tackle, winning tackles, gets the ball, the way he bumps forward, running past players as well to create chances. He’s been absolutely fantastic.”
Moises Caicedo’s improvement in numbers
Mikel says that Caicedo has shut a lot of people up this season, and he’s not wrong.
Indeed, the midfielder has been markedly improved this year, and the stats show it.
Moises Caicedo last season Moises Caicedo this season
2.7 Tackles per game 3
1.1 Interceptions per game 1.4
0.7 Key passes per game 0.8
2.5 Long balls per game 2.5
Caicedo has improved in almost every key metric this year, and while it’s only a gradual improvement in some areas, all of that adds up to a much better campaign all-round.
The South American arrived at Chelsea with huge pressure on his shoulders after his big-money move from Brighton, but he’s starting to justify that pricetag after a fantastic second season at Chelsea.
It will be interesting to see if Caicedo can continue to grow and improve heading into next season.