Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca definitely is aware of the significance of Moises Caicedo.
Maresca has picked the Ecuadorian midfielder within the beginning line-up for 50 of his 51 Premier League matches at Chelsea.
Now, although, after a purple card within the 1-1 draw against Arsenal, Caicedo will miss three matches – at Leeds on Wednesday, and in opposition to Bournemouth and Everton.
Talking on Tuesday, Maresca gave Caicedo the identical billing as star attacker Cole Palmer.
“We’re a greater staff with Cole, we’re a greater staff with Moi,” stated Maresca.
Caicedo has been a key participant for the Blues to this point this season, and solely a late return from South America prevented him from beginning their 2-0 victory in opposition to Burnley after the November worldwide break.
Requested by BBC Sport about nonetheless profitable whereas resting his midfield lynchpin, Maresca stated: “I will not do it any extra. That is the final time!”
He could have been joking, however there may be maybe some fact behind his phrases.
Caicedo gained each the membership’s gamers’ participant and followers’ participant of the season awards in 2024-25, and is regarded by his supervisor as one of many two finest defensive midfielders on the earth, alongside Manchester Metropolis’s Rodri.
Statistics from soccer information supplier Opta again up that judgement.
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No midfielder in Europe’s prime 5 leagues has made extra tackles (28) or interceptions (18) this season than Caicedo.
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These 28 tackles symbolize 23% of Chelsea’s total determine – the second-highest ratio Opta have on document for a participant in a season since 2006-07.
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Caicedo makes extra tackles and wins the next share of duels (59%) than Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch – each typically thought of among the many league’s finest midfielders.
