Latest news with #Caicedo
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Chelsea's 2024-25 player of the season: Moises Caicedo
Who is the best player in the Premier League never to have featured in the Champions League? It is hard to think of a worthier answer to this particular question than Moises Caicedo, but he will not be eligible for much longer. Chelsea will be back in Europe's elite club competition next season, and the soft-spoken but tough-tackling Ecuador international might be the single most significant reason why. Advertisement Caicedo is the only member of Enzo Maresca's young squad to start all 38 of Chelsea's Premier League matches in 2024-25. The last Chelsea player to achieve the feat was Cesar Azpilicueta in 2018-19, and the last midfielder to do it was Frank Lampard in 2004-05. Joining that exclusive club is a testament to the 23-year-old's endurance, but also to his vital importance. He has been the ever-present reference point for Maresca's midfield, around which an inverted full-back can roam, ahead of which Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez can focus the bulk of their energies on the final third without worrying that Chelsea's defence is liable to be exposed. At times, it has felt as if he holds the entire team together — even on the occasions when he has been the nominal right-back inverting into midfield next to Romeo Lavia. 'When you've got Caicedo next to you, it's a dream, really,' Palmer told Sky Sports, as reported by MSN, after Chelsea's 3-1 win over Liverpool earlier this month. 'From the start of the season until now, he's been our best player. He's a machine. He wins everything back (for the team), always gives 100 per cent every day, he's humble, he's nice to everyone, and everyone loves him.' Palmer would have had a strong case to retain his Chelsea player of the season crown if he had managed to carry his 2024 production into 2025. Fernandez has had excellent stretches of form under Maresca this season. Marc Cucurella has bolstered his Stamford Bridge cult-hero credentials by darting upfield from left-back to score several key goals. Levi Colwill has been a fixture in Maresca's defence and scored the most important goal of the season against Nottingham Forest to seal a fourth-place finish. Yet it is a mark of just how good Caicedo has been that among his team-mates and Chelsea supporters, there was no real debate before the voting and no argument after he swept the board for men's first team awards at the club's awards ceremony earlier this month. Advertisement Midfielders who do their best work winning the ball back can sometimes be overlooked for individual credit, but not at Chelsea. This is the club where Claude Makelele was adored, where Nemanja Matic became a revered two-time Premier League champion, and where N'Golo Kante regularly drew gasps from the Stamford Bridge crowd as his otherworldly ability to take the ball from opponents cemented him as the most uniquely dominant midfielder of his generation. Caicedo, with his prime years still ahead of him, has already done enough to distinguish himself as part of that proud lineage. His aggression can sometimes get the better of him, and there are moments when he is overly ambitious in his attempts to poke the ball away. But relatively regular yellow cards are a small price to pay as he engages in the process of exploring the limits of his destructive talents. Opponents already respect his ability to disrupt or derail their attacks, and Chelsea's vast defensive improvement, impossible to ignore under Maresca, has a lot to do with Caicedo. 'Moi is just breaking up everything and making everything look so easy,' Colwill told Chelsea's official YouTube channel after last month's 1-0 win over rivals Tottenham. 'If I had a mic on me when I'm playing, all you'd hear is, 'Wow, Moi'. That's all I do because he makes it so easy for us in defence because he stops everything before it gets to us.' Caicedo's consistent aggression is all the more important at the heart of a young, technical Chelsea team that is often accused of lacking physicality and bite. On good days and bad, he sets the tone without the ball, as well as directing possession with poise and polish. Maresca has already publicly claimed that he is the best defensive midfielder in the world, and any Premier League team of the 2024-25 season which does not include Caicedo raises eyebrows at Stamford Bridge. The question going into next season is not whether he is ready for the Champions League, but whether the Champions League is ready for him.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Chelsea's Conference League celebrations as Caicedo sings karaoke until early hours and Mudryk poses with medal
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA stars partied into the early hours of the morning after getting their hands on the Uefa Conference League trophy. The west Londoners completed the set of European club trophies on Wednesday night thanks to a 4-1 win over Real Betis in Poland. 12 Chelsea got their hands on the Uefa Conference League trophy on Wednesday night Credit: GETTY 12 The Blues beat Real Betis 4-1 to complete the set of European club trophies Credit: GETTY 12 Pedro Neto was joined on the pitch by his other half, Claudia Silva after getting his winners' medal 12 Marc Cucurella was joined by his wife, Claudia Rodriguez Goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo sealed a famous victory in Wroclaw for the Blues. There were joyful scenes on the pitch after the final whistle. And skipper Reece James sent the travelling Stamford Bridge faithful into a state of ecstasy when he raised the trophy high into the sky. But the celebrations didn't stop on the pitch, with Enzo Maresca's troops keeping the party going in the dressing room. The players, understandably, were in the mood for busting a move - particularly Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard did his best two-step as Caicedo broadcast the celebrations on Instagram Live. Goal scorers Fernandez and Jackson also cut a rug as several of the Spanish-speaking players belted out Daddy Yankee's 2004 hit 'Gasolina'. Marc Guiu was seen in the background enjoying one of the beers brought through for the players to enjoy. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 12 There were joyful scenes in the dressing room, with Marc Cucurella dancing along to some Central Cee 12 The west Londoners celebrated long into the night back at the team hotel Credit: INSTAGRAM@ENZOJFERNANDEZ 12 They were joined scores of staff members who travelled to Wroclaw Credit: INSTAGRAM@LEVICOLWILL 12 Moises Caicedo serenaded his team-mates with a rendition of a reggaeton song Credit: INSTAGRAM@YUNGCHALOBAH The Blues continued their celebrations back at the team hotel, where they had a private room to dance the night away. Pedro Neto and Filip Jorgensen were well and truly in the mood for dancing, getting downtown to Bruno Mars' 'Uptown Funk'. CBS Sports reporter asks Cole Palmer why he's carrying trophy in his shorts and Chelsea star's answer doesn't disappoint There was also some late-night karaoke, with Caicedo treating his team-mates to a rendition of a reggaeton song. Trevor Chalobah posted footage of Caicedo's sing-song to his Instagram story, with his accompanying caption reading: "Ladies and gentlemen, my CDM." Noni Madueke also got on the mic, rapping to Meek Mill's 'Dreams and Nightmares'. It was a late night for Ecuador international Caicedo, who was still going strong at 4am. The 23-year-old returned to Instagram Live in the early hours of the morning, prompting team-mate Romeo Lavia to tell him to "go to bed". Several players shared snaps of themselves proudly showing off their winners' medals, including the BANNED Mykhailo Mudryk. The Ukrainian, who is serving a provisional drugs ban, wore a medal for a snap with Fernandez despite not having played in the competition since last November. Levi Cowill gave a glimpse at just how many people were in attendance at the celebrations with a photo shouting out the club staff. 12 Noni Madueke also got on the mic, rapping Meek Mill's 'Dreams and Nightmares' 12 The midfielder was on Instagram Live at 4am and was told to go to bed by team-mate Romeo Lavia Credit: instagram 12 Mykhailo Mudryk joined in on the celebrations - despite serving a provisional drug ban Credit: INSTAGRAM@ENZOJFERNANDEZ 12 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was happy as Larry during the celebrations Credit: INSTAGRAM@KDH_8 Maresca, 45, was nowhere to be seen during the late-night celebrations, which may have resulted in a sore head or two. The Italian is hoping the Conference League triumph will be the first of many trophies during his reign, saying: "I'm very proud, and very happy. "I know the fans deserve it, they've waited for a few years for good moments. "The club has invested a lot of money so they've been waiting too. "Hopefully, this can be a starting point and we can begin to create something important. "The target for next season? We're going to try again. "We'll enjoy it for a week or so, and then start looking ahead."
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Chelsea's Conference League celebrations as Caicedo sings karaoke until early hours and Mudryk poses with medal
CHELSEA stars partied into the early hours of the morning after getting their hands on the Uefa Conference League trophy. The west Londoners completed the set of European club trophies on Wednesday night thanks to a Poland . Advertisement 12 Chelsea got their hands on the Uefa Conference League trophy on Wednesday night Credit: GETTY 12 The Blues beat Real Betis 4-1 to complete the set of European club trophies Credit: GETTY 12 Pedro Neto was joined on the pitch by his other half, Claudia Silva after getting his winners' medal 12 Marc Cucurella was joined by his wife, Claudia Rodriguez Goals from Enzo Fernandez, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo sealed a famous victory in Wroclaw for the Blues. There were joyful scenes on the pitch after the final whistle. And skipper sky . But the celebrations didn't stop on the pitch, with dressing room . Advertisement READ MORE ON CHELSEA The players, understandably, were in the mood for busting a move - particularly The Spaniard did his best two-step as Caicedo broadcast the celebrations on Instagram Live. Goal scorers Fernandez and Jackson also cut a rug as several of the Spanish-speaking players belted out Daddy Yankee's 2004 hit 'Gasolina'. Advertisement Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 12 There were joyful scenes in the dressing room, with Marc Cucurella dancing along to some Central Cee 12 The west Londoners celebrated long into the night back at the team hotel Credit: INSTAGRAM@ENZOJFERNANDEZ 12 They were joined scores of staff members who travelled to Wroclaw Credit: INSTAGRAM@LEVICOLWILL Advertisement 12 Moises Caicedo serenaded his team-mates with a rendition of a reggaeton song Credit: INSTAGRAM@YUNGCHALOBAH The Blues continued their celebrations back at the team hotel, where they had a private room to dance the night away. Pedro Neto and Filip Jorgensen were well and truly in the mood for dancing, getting downtown to Bruno Mars' 'Uptown Funk'. CBS Sports reporter asks Cole Palmer why he's carrying trophy in his shorts and Chelsea star's answer doesn't disappoint There was also some late-night karaoke, with Caicedo treating his team-mates to a rendition of a reggaeton song. Advertisement Trevor Chalobah posted footage of Caicedo's sing-song to his Instagram story, with his accompanying caption reading: "Ladies and gentlemen, my CDM." Noni Madueke also got on the mic, rapping to Meek Mill's 'Dreams and Nightmares'. It was a late night for Ecuador international Caicedo, who was still going strong at 4am. The 23-year-old returned to Instagram Live in the early hours of the morning, prompting team-mate Advertisement Several players shared snaps of themselves proudly showing off their winners' medals, including the BANNED The Ukrainian, who is serving a provisional drugs ban, wore a medal for a snap with Fernandez despite not having played in the competition since last November. Levi Cowill gave a glimpse at just how many people were in attendance at the celebrations with a photo shouting out the club staff. 12 Noni Madueke also got on the mic, rapping Meek Mill's 'Dreams and Nightmares' Advertisement 12 The midfielder was on Instagram Live at 4am and was told to go to bed by team-mate Romeo Lavia Credit: instagram 12 Mykhailo Mudryk joined in on the celebrations - despite serving a provisional drug ban Credit: INSTAGRAM@ENZOJFERNANDEZ 12 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was happy as Larry during the celebrations Credit: INSTAGRAM@KDH_8 Maresca, 45, was nowhere to be seen during the late-night celebrations, which may have resulted in a sore head or two. Advertisement The Italian is hoping the Conference League triumph will be the first of many trophies during his reign, saying: "I'm very proud, and very happy. "I know the fans deserve it, they've waited for a few years for good moments. "The club has invested a lot of money so they've been waiting too. "Hopefully, this can be a starting point and we can begin to create something important. Advertisement "The target for next season? We're going to try again. "We'll enjoy it for a week or so, and then start looking ahead."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Chelsea's £1bn squad vs Betis' band of misfits! Shocking disparity in Europa Conference League final on full display - with one Todd Boehly signing worth more than Spanish side's ENTIRE squad
On Tuesday Cole Palmer warned his Chelsea team-mates that 'anything can happen in a final' and 'it doesn't matter who you play or where it is.' But with such an enormous financial gulf between them and Real Betis, the odds are firmly stacked in Chelsea's favour as they look to become the first ever side to win all four major European club competitions. Victory would also finally spell a first trophy under Todd Boehly after a £1.2billion transfer outlay since he took charge three years ago. Enzo Maresca 's billion pound Blues have paraded through the Conference League beating lower and less expensive opposition from Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Armenia, Ireland, Kazakhstan and Greece on their way to Wroclaw. They will have do it one more time on Wednesday, though, when they take on a side of misfits carved together by Manuel Pellgrini - and costing just £84.5million Chelsea's squad has costed a staggering £1.39bn to assemble - the most expensive side ever, according to UEFA. While Chelsea's last match against Nottingham Forest featured a £222.8m midfield pairing of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Betis' entire starting 11 against Valencia on Friday cost just £28.2m. Under Boehly, Chelsea have spent £115m on Caicedo, £107.8m on Fernandez, £70m on Wesley Fofana and £88m on Mykhailo Mudryk. They have also paid more than £50m for Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto. Meanwhile Betis have spent just £34.3m on 12 players, including two on loan, in the past two windows. Their largest outlay on a current player is £15.5m on William Carvalho. The Seville-based side have an an annual payroll of £44,482,477, with an average weekly salary of £35,642, according to Capology. Chelsea, who pay Reece James £250,000 a week and Wesley Fofana £200,000, spend £169,925,600 yearly, with players earning £68,079-a-week on average. And while they have dropped billions on 41 players across six windows under Boehly, their Spanish opposition are spearheaded by Manchester United loanee Antony, who Betis would need to 'crowdfund' to keep for another year, team-mate Isco said. Antony's form since joining Betis has been so impressive that club legend Joaquin even joked they would need to 'kidnap' the Brazilian to keep him at Estadio Benito Villamarin next season. The 25-year-old, who has scored four times and provided three assists in the Conference League since January, is far from the first star to see his career rejuvenated in the five years Pellegrini has been at the Andalusian oufit. Former Real Madrid midfielder Isco described Betis as 'my light in the darkness' having joined after six months without a club, while Giovani Lo Celso has also bounced back after struggling at Tottenham - having been signed for just £8.4m Pablo Fornals, another Premier League export, cost a mere £6.8m after leaving West Ham last season. Pellegrini, who joined after a single season at West Ham, won the Copa Del Rey in 2023 - Betis' first trophy in seventeen years. This season they beat local rivals Sevilla for the first time in seven years and they are closing in on a maiden European title. But they haven't broken the bank under the Chilean. In December 2023, Pellegrini urged the club to step up their spending. 'The next step for this Betis depends on the club's financial situation. We were barely able to sign in recent years,' he said. 'When there is stability there may be a more competitive squad. But this team has no ceiling, we compete against anyone and we have won a Copa de Rey. What has been done in these four years is something to take your hat off to.' Betis' finances have improved in recent years. They took out a £105m loan from American investment bank Goldman Sachs last year as they seek to improve their stadium, including adding a roof. But they are still bound by strict LaLiga salary rules. Remarkably, their record transfer fee is still the £21.5m they paid for Denilson in 1998 - at the time a world record. Twenty-seven years on the most they have spent on a player in their current squad is on Carvalho. The ownership styles between the two clubs could not be more different. Increasing frustration with the direction of Chelsea has led hundreds of fans to stage furious protests against Boehly and Clearlake Capital outside Stamford Bridge this season. The American simply dismissed criticism as 'par for the course'. At Betis, supporters own around 55 per cent of the club alongside the local businessmen Angel Haro Garcia and Jose Miguel Lopez Catalan. The two sides have faced each other four times before, with Betis winning the last encounter 1-0 in a Champions League group game against a Mourinho Chelsea side featuring Petr Cech, Frank Lampard and John Terry in November 2005. Chelsea can rest assured they will return to Europe's top competition next season and a first trophy in four years could at last see the billion pound boys start to repay their hefty fees.
Metro
5 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Joe Cole names Chelsea star as 'most improved player in the Premier League'
Joe Cole has named the best signing of the season and hailed Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo as the 'most improved player in the Premier League'. Caicedo has been one of Chelsea's most consistent players this season, making 44 appearances in all competitions. He in fact became the first central midfielder to start every game for Chelsea in a Premier League season since Frank Lampard in 2004-05. The 23-year-old quickly established himself as one of the standout midfielders in the Premier League during his spell at Brighton but endured an underwhelming first season at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea spent over £100m to sign Caicedo but fans were left disappointing by his first 12 months in west London. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Caicedo has looked back to his best this season, however, flourishing in Chelsea's midfield and even filling in at right-back when needed. The Ecuador international helped Chelsea qualify for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and reach Wednesday night's Europa Conference League final against Real Betis. Ex-Chelsea and England midfielder Cole says Caicedo has been 'outstanding' this season and believes he can 'kick on' next year. 'For me, the most improved award is going to someone who I've watched regularly and that's Moises Caicedo,' Cole told Paddy Power. 'Not that he wasn't a top player before, but he went off the boil slightly, however this season he's been outstanding. 'I'm sure the transfer fee weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he seemed to reset himself this year and he's been great. I think he'll kick on next season and be even better than this year.' Player of the season – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 'My player of the season for this year is Mo Salah. He's won the title in emphatic fashion. I know he's tailed off in recent weeks, but he deserves a restful summer.' Young player of the season – Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) 'My young player of the season is Myles Lewis-Skelly. I've been really impressed with how he's conducted himself and I really like him. I think he's going to be England's left-back for the next 10 years.' Signing of the season – Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth) 'The best signing of the season has to be Dean Huijsen. He's been brilliant for Bournemouth this season and that's clear to see with Real Madrid snapping him up for £50m. He's been outstanding this season and thoroughly deserves his move to Madrid.' Most improved player of the season – Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) 'For me, the most improved award is going to someone who I've watched regularly and that's Moises Caicedo. Not that he wasn't a top player before, but he went off the boil slightly, however this season he's been outstanding. 'I'm sure the transfer fee weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he seemed to reset himself this year and he's been great. I think he'll kick on next season and be even better than this year.' Underachievers of the season – West Ham 'The biggest underachievers this season has to be West Ham. They changed managers mid-season and Graham Potter needs time, but the squad just weren't good enough this season. The only player who really stood out is Jarrod Bowen.' Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season to secure Champions League football for next year. 'Very happy,' Blues boss Enzo Maresca said. 'I'm very happy for many reasons. First of all, because I think the players deserve it. 'Since day one they have been working very, very hard. With the club, with the owners, with the sporting directors, the players, we all go in the same direction. More Trending UK 15 hours ago By Luke Alsford 'And I said many times during the season that the noise was more from outside than from inside. 'City lost here, Arsenal drew here, Liverpool drew here and Chelsea won. So it's not easy. It's not easy. The players, they show how good they are, the effort they have been. '12th two years ago, sixth last year and fourth this season. With probably the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League. So, very happy.' Chelsea are hoping to end an encouraging season under Maresca by winning the Europa League final. La Liga side Real Betis are their opponents in the final in Poland. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Chelsea 'favourites' to sign Premier League star despite Man Utd agreement MORE: Kevin De Bruyne rejected two Premier League clubs before agreeing summer transfer MORE: Arsenal and Chelsea told £64m star 'almost guarantees' them the Premier League title
