MOISES CAICEDO hopes to follow in the footsteps of two Chelsea icons as the Blues chase their first Premier League title since 2017.
The Ecuadorian midfielder has established himself as one of the best in the world in his position since joining from Brighton for £115million in August 2023.
His diminutive stature, tireless engine and ability to win duels have seen fans compare him to club legends N’Golo Kante and Claude Makelele in under three years at Stamford Bridge.
This season, Caicedo, 23, has added another dimension to his game, a knack for scoring from distance, firing Chelsea ahead with a stunning opener against Liverpool on Saturday, rifled into the top-left corner.
Caicedo told SunSport he’s been working hard on improving that side of his game, with four of his seven Chelsea goals coming from outside the box, but insists he still has a long way to go to match the club’s greats.
He said: “I want to score goals to help the team. It was a great goal, I told myself this season I had to score one from outside the box, and I did it!
“It’s so good that the fans love me, but I’m far from N’Golo Kanté or Makélélé for what they did at Chelsea. They achieved a lot.
“I’m going to keep working. I want to become a legend here.”
When Liverpool equalised through Cody Gakpo, it looked as though Caicedo’s wonder strike – worthy of winning any match – would only be enough for a point, or none at all.
But the latest prince of the King’s Road, Estevão, had other ideas.
The 18-year-old wonderkid changed the game after coming off the bench, sprinting to the back post to meet a Marc Cucurella cross and turn the ball home in stoppage time.
Rapturous celebrations followed on and off the pitch, with even head coach Enzo Maresca sent off after sprinting down the touchline to join in the celebrations.
Caicedo was full of praise for the young Brazilian, adding: “It’s a great feeling that Estevão scored. He’s doing a great job here, and we’re so happy for him.
“You can see on the pitch, even in training, he’s so good, and showing his quality. We’ve tried to help him because the Premier League is so different to Brazil, but he’s making a big impact.”
Chelsea’s win over Liverpool marked another step forward under Maresca, who has quickly instilled belief and structure into a side once accused of lacking both.
After a turbulent couple of years of transition – with record signings, several different managers and an ever-changing starting XI, the Blues finally looked like a team ready to compete again, even without their star man Cole Palmer.
Arrivals like Caicedo and Palmer are justifying their price tags, while new recruits Estevão and Joao Pedro have shown in spells that they can perform at the highest level, particularly on Saturday and against PSG in the Club World Cup final.
Maresca’s men have had to fight through adversity already this season though, with injuries to key players including Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Liam Delap disrupting their rhythm, forcing constant reshuffles.
Title talk was bubbling around Stamford Bridge at the start of the season, with expectations rising after a strong start and flashes of brilliance against top opposition, but after seven games they sit five points away from the top.
The core of Maresca’s system, however, high pressing, controlled possession and fluid attacking patterns, looked as if it had clicked against Liverpool, with Caicedo, Fernandez and Lavia looking dominant in midfield in particular.
The win over Liverpool was more than just three points at home. It felt like a statement that this Chelsea side are ready to move from potential to performance, and was something for the Blues to build on when they welcome a few injured players back after the international break.
After a bumpy start to this campaign, consistency remains the buzzword at Chelsea, and one Caicedo is keenly aware of.
The midfielder added: “It’s too early to say we’re going to win it. For sure, we want to win the Premier League.
“We will take it step by step because the Premier League is tough, but we are going to do our best.
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CHELSEA scored a stunning late winner as they beat Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
“It’s so frustrating when a player gets injured, but we need to do it with the players we have. At the moment, we are doing well.
“When you beat big teams, it’s so important for us, for our confidence, and today we did that.
“We need to be consistent. We’ve shown our quality, we’ve shown our character on the pitch. Now we want to continue that.”
The Blues will have a chance to prove their consistency when they face Nottingham Forest away from home after the international break.
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