Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for a record fee of £115 million, creating a lot of pressure on the Ecuadorian star. The midfielder's first season at Stamford Bridge was not smooth when he made a number of individual mistakes that caused the team to receive unfavorable results.
However, from the second half of last season, Caicedo gradually integrated, ignored the mistakes and focused on the game. The 23-year-old star showed stable performance and ended the season with a beautiful goal against Bournemouth, marking clear progress.
In the 2024-2025 season, with Enzo Maresca replacing Pochettino, Caicedo was used as a classic defensive midfielder (number 6) in the team's tactical system. He became the center of all plans, playing a key role in stopping counter-attacks and also initiating attacks from home.
No Chelsea player has played more Premier League minutes than Moises Caicedo. He and Cole Palmer are the only two players to start all 20 games in the competition. However, without Palmer, the Blues have alternatives such as Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix. With Caicedo, the situation is completely different.
The Ecuadorian midfielder is the only player in the Chelsea squad capable of consistently making tackles and interceptions at a high level. He leads the Premier League in defensive interventions (93), despite the Londoners having the ball 58.2% of the time, second only to Man City. This further highlights Caicedo's excellent judgment and ability to read situations.
Caicedo’s performances are reminiscent of N’Golo Kante, whom he has always idolised. While Caicedo’s style of play is somewhat different, his ability to read the game quickly, move across the pitch and intercept the ball effectively is no less than Kante’s at his peak. In addition, the former Brighton player also has an impressive ability to transition from defence to attack, typically the sharp passes that set up Nicolas Jackson’s goals against West Ham and Liverpool.
Chelsea currently have no player capable of replacing Caicedo in the defensive midfield role. Romeo Lavia still lacks the defensive experience to take on the sweeping role in midfield. Enzo Fernandez is better suited to a more advanced holding role, while Cesare Casadei and Renato Veiga have only been tested in cup competitions.
Other options like Andrey Santos and Lesley Ugochukwu, while promising, are not yet ready to shoulder the heavy load. That leaves Caicedo as an indispensable piece in the Chelsea squad, a player who acts as the link between Enzo Maresca's entire tactical system.
In fact, the Italian coach has admitted that Caicedo is among the world's top defensive midfielders, along with Rodri and Declan Rice. However, Maresca is also aware of the risks of relying too much on a single player, especially when a tight schedule can affect the fitness of stars.
The Blues boss has cleverly lightened the load on Caicedo by limiting his use in cup competitions such as the UEFA Conference League and FA Cup, only bringing him on in important matches. This is to ensure that the Ecuadorian midfielder can maintain his best form in decisive Premier League matches.
With Chelsea pushing for a top-four finish in the Premier League, keeping Caicedo fit and in form will be paramount for Enzo Maresca and the team. With his talent and tenacity, the 23-year-old midfielder is not only a current star but also a bright future for the Stamford Bridge outfit.
