{"id":1368041,"date":"2024-11-08T15:30:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T15:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1368041"},"modified":"2024-11-08T16:18:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T16:18:26","slug":"moises-caicedo-premier-league-best-midfielder","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/moises-caicedo-premier-league-best-midfielder\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Moises Caicedo the Premier League’s best ball-winning midfielder?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Among the biggest transfer sagas of last summer was Mois\u00e9s Caicedo’s future.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He banked on Chelsea<\/a>, who parted with \u00a3100 million for his services, placing a millstone around his neck. After struggling, the Ecuadorian midfielder has slowly begun to shed that pressure and become a cornerstone behind the Blues’ resurgence.<\/p>\n

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Chelsea sit fourth heading into this latest round of Premier League fixtures: seven places and six points better off than at the same stage of last season.<\/p>\n

To say Caicedo has been the driving force would be an understatement. He is only one of four outfielders, along with Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Levi Colwill, to have started every league game under Enzo Maresca, with only Colwill playing more minutes.<\/p>\n

It underlines his importance to Maresca, who succeeded Mauricio Pochettino before the season began. Caicedo spoke of his excitement about Maresca’s appointment, feeling he could progress with the Italian at the helm.<\/p>\n

“He plays like the same system that I played in Brighton. He wants the same. He wants me to show my quality, have a good personality, and show my teammates that I am the boss on the pitch,” Caicedo said. “For sure, I will be a good player with him.”<\/p>\n

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He featured prominently under Pochettino, too, but his price tag weighed heavily. He was unable to replicate the performance levels shown at Brighton. That has changed this season. Chelsea so often overrun in midfield last term; 67 goals conceded in 38 matches illustrated their openness; they have shipped in only 12 in 10 this time.<\/p>\n

It owes a lot to the defensive protection offered by Caicedo. His total of 52 tackles and interceptions combined is the highest of any Premier League player this season. On current form, he is arguably the best central midfielder in the league.<\/p>\n

Caicedo also ranks top for Premier League midfielders regarding both making and winning tackles and ranks highly for winning duels (second – 68), recovering the ball in the middle third (sixth – 26), and interceptions (third – 17).<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old is not just a destroyer; he can also hurt opponents with his distribution and break the lines with a dribble or pass. Caicedo also completes far more successful passes inside the final third than any Chelsea player. Maresca attributes his improvement to time.<\/p>\n