Ally McCoist says Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo not only looks like ‘a different player’ but a ‘different human being’ this season under Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea beat Premier League rivals Liverpool to the signing of Caicedo in the summer of 2023 but must have been having doubts over the stunning £115m deal last season.
Caicedo had thrived for Brighton, quickly establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in England, but endured an underwhelming first season at Stamford Bridge.
The 23-year-old has looked much-improved this term, however, starting all 13 of Chelsea’s Premier League games and helping the Blues climb to third in the table.
Caicedo has formed an impressive partnership with fellow 2023 signing Romeo Lavia, with Chelsea looking good for a top-four finish and perhaps even an unlikely title tilt.
McCoist was critical of Caicedo’s form last season but says he ‘looks a different player’ this term and praised Maresca for getting a tune out of the Ecuador international.
‘Moises Caicedo has looked an absolute different player this season, he looks a different human being!’ McCoist told talkSPORT Bet.
‘It’s not just him as well, so does Romeo Lavia who has come in alongside Caicedo, he’s been different class.
‘It looks like the Chelsea midfield have a different balance to them and a different attitude, I was justifiably critical of Caicedo last season, everyone knew his ability when he came in from Brighton, but he was unable to show it for whatever reason.
‘I must commend him on his turn around in form, credit where it’s due. The midfield for Chelsea looks excellent and it’s really refreshing to see.
‘The credit must go to the players for turning it around but also to Enzo Maresca, who’s got them playing some excellent football.’
Chelsea thumped Champions League high-flyers Aston Villa 3-0 over the weekend to stay level on points with second-placed Arsenal and remain nine points behind runaway leaders Liverpool.
But Maresca, who arrived at Stamford Bridge over the summer after securing promotion with Leicester City, insists his Chelsea team are still ‘not ready’ to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
‘I think we are not ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City for many reasons and because we won today I am not going to change my mind,’ he said after Chelsea beat Aston Villa.
‘But the good thing is we are improving and hopefully very soon we will be there.
‘This was a very good game for many reasons, one is that we played a team that is fantastic and I consider Emery to be a top manager.
‘He has won trophies everywhere and is doing something fantastic at Villa but also we prepared well for the game and deserved to win.
‘We have to live moments to get better these players, some of them in their lives they have played one final and that was the Carabao Cup last year.
‘That is the most important game they have played. Arsenal, Liverpool and City’s players have all played finals and been in title runs.
‘We will be there soon but that is why we are not ready to compete with those clubs.’
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