Enzo Maresca said earlier in the week that Moises Caicedo currently sits at the table of top midfielders alongside Declan Rice and Rodri.
Maresca said in the week on Caicedo:
“He is for sure now at that level. No doubt. Unfortunately, Rodri is injured, but Declan is playing. But I think Moisés can sit at that table with that kind of midfielder.”
Rodri is currently injured, but the truth is, how Caicedo has played so far this season, he is sitting at the head of this table right now, and this is coming from a big fan of Rice as you will all know.
I was more than happy at the time to sign Caicedo and miss out on Rice though, despite wanting the latter. I fully believed that Caicedo was more than a suitable alternative, despite the players perhaps offering differing attributes. I don’t think this is even about disrespecting Rice or Rodri, I simply think it is merely about offering due praise to a player who has been absolutely flawless this season and hugely consistent. You don’t need to disrespect other players to praise another.
I also think Ryan Gravenberch, who is another midfielder that Chelsea did actually explore around the time they signed Caicedo, deserves a big mention at this table too if we are speaking about top centre midfielders in the Premier League who play in that deeper role right now.
Again, this is coming from someone who rates Rice still, and both players have decent ratings this season:
Caicedo has played more than Rice this season, and neither were going to have the best attacker stats:
There isn’t too much between the next set of stats, but in terms of tackling and intercepting, Caicedo is shining:
He is also winning more ground duels and losing possession much less:
I think Rice has been good, but Caicedo has been better.
Gravenberch has actually been closer to Caicedo in terms of overall stats and ratings:
Caicedo still winning more tackles and ground duels though:
I appreciate and rate all three midfielders, but the stats show that Caicedo, in the absence of Rodri, is currently sitting head of the table!