Moises Caicedo reveals difficulty in training with Chelsea last season

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Evening Standard

·8 July 2024

Moises Caicedo reveals difficulty in training with Chelsea last season

Blues midfielder improved during turbulent season

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has opened up on the difficulties he endured at training last season.

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The midfielder moved to the Blues last summer for a British record sum of £115m but endured a mixed first season during a turbulent campaign under Mauricio Pochettino.

While Chelsea finished strongly to claim sixth place in the Premier League and guarantee Conference League football next season, Caicedo was one of many who initially failed to convince.

There can be little doubt the 22-year-old improved over time of course and his stunning goal against Bournemouth on the final day capped off a late-season resurgence.

Still, it was not the easiest of seasons for the club as a whole and the Ecuador international admitted he struggled with the differences in training methods, having worked on the more tactical aspects of the game during his time with Brighton.

“At Brighton, it was all tactical, just with the ball; tactical, tactical, tactical,” he told Radio La Red.

“And at Chelsea, it was run, run, run and it was very difficult for me.

“With Chelsea, I always ran a bit more and with Brighton we almost always had the ball, with Chelsea it was a different football and we had to run more.”

Pochettino was eventually replaced by former Leicester coach Enzo Maresca and the Italian has been speaking for the first time since his appointment.

New era: Enzo Maresca replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea manager

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

The 44-year old believes his squad has more than enough quality in it to challenge for major honours.

“I’m very excited,” he said.

“One of the reasons I’m here is because I’m convinced the squad is very good and full of talent.

“The most important thing now is we’re able to create the right culture that drives us for the season.

“I always say the same: if you are able to improve players then you are able to improve the team. So it’s our target to try to improve all of them day by day.”