If things had gone differently, Moises Caicedo could have worn the Manchester United red shirt instead of the Chelsea blue shirt. Back to reality, the Ecuador midfielder scored a great equalizer to help The Blues leave Old Trafford with a valuable point.
The "Red Devils" tried to sign Caicedo from independiente del Valle in Ecuador before he moved to Brighton. He then joined Chelsea in a £115 million deal in 2023.
The huge transfer fee has put the 23-year-old under pressure at Stamford Bridge. However, after a poor first season for the Blues, Caicedo has finally started to show his form from his time at Brighton.
Caicedo's goal against Man United was a spectacular volley from the edge of the penalty area. It was a difficult move, but Caicedo did it perfectly and Onana had no chance to block it. The home team's goalkeeper seemed unable to react to the speed of the ball.
In addition to the equaliser, Caicedo contributed to Chelsea's overall play in many aspects. The Ecuadoran player had 60 touches, 84% pass accuracy, 1 chance pass, 2/3 accurate long passes, 2/3 successful dribbles and won 8/16 duels...
Caicedo's overall performance helped him be named the Man of the Match. The 23-year-old midfielder and teammate Romeo Lavia completely stifled Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte on the other side of the front line.
Chelsea are still in the process of being perfected under coach Enzo Maresca. But if he can maintain his form steadily, Caicedo will help The Blues make a big step forward this season.
Lavia's recovery from injury and return to the central midfield position has helped Caicedo feel more comfortable. Lavia took on a defensive support role, helping Caicedo not have to shoulder too much responsibility, thereby focusing on his playing style.
"Since we arrived at the club, Moises Caicedo is doing very well. He is improving a lot. We are trying to spend time for him to perfect his skills. And Caicedo is showing how good he is.
He needs a little more time to adapt. Chelsea is a big club, one of the best clubs in the world. Therefore, when the players join Chelsea, it is not like they will shine immediately. You may need some time to integrate and now Caicedo is proving how good he is" - Maresca commented on his student.
