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When a new player signs with a club for a hefty fee of £115m, there is often an expectation for immediate success. However, in the case of Moisés Caicedo joining Chelsea, his arrival was during a disrupted pre-season and he was not joining a team with a stable starting lineup or a group of seasoned players who could assist in his integration.
It is not the same as when midfielder Declan Rice transferred to Arsenal for £105m, as the team is much more organized. In Chelsea’s situation, there is concern that a player who is considered the missing piece of the puzzle may eventually become lost or overlooked. The team consists of a 23-year-old captain who frequently misses games, a 39-year-old defender, a confused Ukrainian player, and a striker who has received as many yellow cards as goals this season. While there may be times when everything falls into place and looks promising, there are also instances like when Lesley Ugochukwu started in the game against Newcastle and the team lost 4-1.
Entering this environment after your record move may not be the most productive. Caicedo is not considered a failure. He joined Brighton after the season had already started and had a slow start at Chelsea, giving away a penalty in his debut match against West Ham and losing possession in the buildup to Nottingham Forest’s winning goal at Stamford Bridge in September. However, he has shown improvement. The challenge for Chelsea is to not overwhelm him with too much pressure. According to Mauricio Pochettino, Caicedo is an emotional player and they need to give him time to reach his best form.
The same can be said for a large portion of Chelsea’s inexperienced team. They performed well in a 2-2 tie against Arsenal, but then suffered a loss at their home stadium to Brentford. After their 4-4 draw with Manchester City, they had a complete breakdown against Newcastle, resulting in a defeat where Reece James, the team captain, received two yellow cards and was ejected, Thiago Silva scored an unintentional goal, and Pochettino lost his cool after the game ended.
Chelsea’s recent defeat puts them at a significant disadvantage in the competition for a top-four finish, despite spending £1 billion on new players. Additionally, they currently trail Brighton by six points and will face them in their upcoming match on Sunday. This is noteworthy considering that Chelsea has acquired one manager, one sporting director, and three players from Brighton since the summer of 2022.
Maybe there will be a time when everything falls into place. However, currently, we are approaching the winter transfer period with the potential for Chelsea to make a significant investment in Ivan Toney or Victor Osimhen in hopes of addressing their issues with scoring goals. This is assuming that Christopher Nkunku’s return from a knee injury does not result in an immediate boost in their offensive performance.
The current mood is unclear, as Chelsea has been very active in the transfer market but lacks prominent leaders. The top teams in the Premier League have strong personalities and stable foundations. In contrast, Pochettino criticized Chelsea for being weak after their game against Newcastle. It is not certain that acquiring a top striker would prevent this team from experiencing sudden breakdowns.
After the successful signing of Caicedo, there was a sense of triumphalism among Chelsea. They had been pursuing him all summer and were pleased to have outbid Liverpool at the last minute, similar to their victory over Arsenal for Mykhailo Mudryk. However, the current league standings paint a different picture, with Liverpool in contention for the title while Chelsea struggles to distance themselves from the lower-ranked teams.
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Purchasing Caicedo cannot be considered a mistake. At 22 years old, he has signed an eight-year contract and is recognized as one of the top young midfielders globally. Despite recovering from a minor knee injury and not yet reaching peak performance, Chelsea’s most impressive displays have often featured Caicedo as part of a dynamic midfield trio with Enzo Fernández and Conor Gallagher. It may not be a coincidence that Caicedo was not in the starting lineup for the loss against Newcastle.
The data is intriguing. Caicedo, typically playing as Chelsea’s defensive midfielder, has surprisingly low numbers for tackles and interceptions in the premier league. Despite being known for his defensive skills, his performance has decreased compared to last season. He has also been more cautious with the ball, although he is attempting more long passes. One of his standout moments was when he received the ball deep against Fulham in October, evaded the opposition’s pressure, and initiated the play that resulted in a goal for Mudryk by sending a crossfield pass to Levi Colwill.
This player is not limited to one role. While Caicedo’s main responsibilities include protecting the defense and supporting Fernández, he is also skilled in controlling the ball and taking long-range shots. His performance is not the concern. If he is not making as many tackles and interceptions, it could be due to the overall weaknesses of Chelsea as a developing team. Even a high-priced signing of £115m cannot immediately solve cultural and structural issues. Pochettino and Caicedo require time to make a significant impact.
Source: theguardian.com
