Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has informed Sky Sports activities it was “impossible” to show down the membership in favour of Liverpool final summer season – because the Reds got here in too late for him.
Caicedo moved to Stamford Bridge for a British switch report £115m in August, placing a dent in Liverpool’s fruitless seek for a brand new No 6 following Fabinho’s summer season departure.
They finally opted for Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo, who joined Jurgen Klopp’s facet for round £100m lower than the Ecuadorian and has began solely 4 of their 16 Premier League video games this season.
Caicedo had been linked with a transfer to Chelsea lengthy earlier than Liverpool’s curiosity grew to become public. Chatting with Sky Sports activities forward of Saturday’s dwelling recreation with Sheffield United, he revealed the size of the negotiations he had held with the Blues was a deciding think about the place he ended up after leaving Brighton.
“I was talking with Chelsea for a long time. It was impossible to say not to Chelsea, because they were with me supporting me,” Caicedo defined.
“In the summer I suffered a lot because it was complicated to leave Brighton. They were with me, and in the last moment Liverpool called me but it was [too] late because I wanted to play for Chelsea. It was tough to say no to Chelsea.”
The dimensions of Caicedo’s price ticket eclipsed the British report price already paid by Chelsea to Enzo Fernandez earlier in 2023, and has solely been amplified by a troublesome begin to life in West London.
Moises Caicedo’s stats ranked above the best within the Premier League final season – however he has not hit these heights since becoming a member of Chelsea
On whether or not he feels shackled by the value paid for him, Caicedo stated: “Not for the fee, because at Chelsea you always have to win. Always, every game, if you don’t win you feel the pressure, because the fans always want to see the team winning.
“Generally it is troublesome [to win] as a result of the opposite groups are robust as properly. We all know we’re Chelsea, however we’re a brand new group with younger gamers. Personally, I’ve solely been right here 4 months, every thing is new for me.
“I think it’s about time. It’s going to take time.”
Caicedo stays assured regardless of robust begin
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Watch highlights from Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday, their seventh league loss already this season
Caicedo was seen as one of many Premier League’s brightest defensive midfielders underneath Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton, who he helped qualify for the Europa League for the primary time of their historical past final season.
He’s but to breed that type within the blue shirt of Chelsea, who’ve received solely 5 of 16 Premier League video games since his arrival and sit twelfth within the desk, already 14 factors off a top-four spot.
That has not dented the boldness of the 22-year-old, who has already racked up 59 appearances within the English high flight and missed just one league recreation on the Amex final season.
“In my career, I’ve achieved a lot, for example playing for the national team, [then] Brighton bought me and I played a good season at Brighton,” he informed Sky Sports activities.
Chelsea sit twelfth within the Premier League – nearer to the relegation zone than the highest 4
“I did really well. Other people spent on me, because last season I was an incredible player and other people were speaking [well] about me.
“I do know that this second, it can arrive, as a result of in soccer there might be good and dangerous occasions.
“Right now, this is a bad time for me, and my family is suffering a lot because they read and listen to the things people say about me that are not good.
“It is exhausting. It is exhausting for me. I attempt to be robust, as a result of soccer is like this. I’m ready for this.
“I attempt to assist them in each single means, as a result of they’re with me in good moments and dangerous moments. After God, my household is an important factor.
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Clinton Morrison and the Sports activities Sunday panel focus on what goes fallacious for Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea after their newest loss to Everton at Goodison Park
“They are proud but, at the moment, they are suffering because of how people speak about me, not in a good way. It’s normal. I tell them to be relaxed and not read the bad things because it’s not good for them.”
On the bond he shares with Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino, Caicedo stated: “We have a good relationship. He protects me from the criticism. He has been really kind and patient with me.
“He is aware of who I’m and that’s the reason he’s relaxed with me. I am solely right here 4 months; I did not do a great pre-season as a result of it was robust for me. I am certain I will actually present my high quality, to indicate who I’m.”
‘Kante and Pogba were my idols in football’
Moises Caicedo hails N’Golo Kante as his ‘idol’ rising up, however he by no means acquired to play alongside him at Chelsea
Caicedo and outgoing Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante handed like ships within the evening at Stamford Bridge, with the Frenchman leaving London for Saudi Arabia on the finish of his contract on June 30, barely a month earlier than his substitute was signed.
It meant the ex-Brighton man by no means acquired to play alongside the idol he watched rising up – and as a 15-year-old noticed him full Leicester’s Premier League fairytale in 2016 – however he does nonetheless have a reminiscence of going through him within the Premier League, at the least.
“N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba were my idols in football,” he stated. “I loved watching them.
“Enjoying in my neighbourhood, I might play with my brother’s mates. It was superb as a result of they have been older, so I learnt loads from them.
“Meeting N’Golo Kante – it was amazing. I was at Brighton, on the bench. I think it was 1-1. After the game, I ran straight to Kante to swap shirts. He said ‘yes, of course’.
“He was very variety with me. It was an unbelievable second for me as a result of I met my idol.
“It was the same with Paul Pogba and I swapped shirts with him. I have the shirts back in Ecuador. Nobody can take the shirts away. They are so special to me.”
