Caicedo confident Chelsea can make their mark in the Premier League after Club World Cup success | OneFootball

Moises Caicedo is heading into the 2025/26 season full of belief that Chelsea can make a strong impact in the Premier League.

He’s also excited about stepping onto the Champions League stage for the first time. The Ecuadorian midfielder is coming off a dream campaign.

Voted both Chelsea’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year, Caicedo capped his season by helping the Blues lift two trophies.

He scored in the 4-1 demolition of Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final, and his performance at the Club World Cup saw him named the third-best player in the tournament.

Caicedo returned home to Ecuador over the summer and was greeted like a national hero.

“People stopped me in the street,” Caicedo told Chelsea’s website. “It was crazy, they were happy to see me, I could see on their faces.

“It was incredible seeing my country and how happy people were watching me win the Club World Cup. My family also are proud of me, and I enjoyed being there a lot.”

Now back at Cobham, Caicedo has shifted his focus to the 2025/26 season. Manager Enzo Maresca has praised him as an important part of the team, and he is using that praise as fuel.

“I appreciate that and it’s a motivation for me,” he said. “It’s why I train every day even harder.”

Caicedo knows that the coming Premier League season will be as demanding as ever, but he is confident that Chelsea can make their mark.

“I just want to start the season really well,” he said. “For sure, it will be an incredible and tough season also, because we know the Premier League is always tough, but we are going to do well.”

The 23-year-old is also looking forward to playing in the Champions League for the first time in his career after helping the Blues qualify for the first time since 2022/23.

“It’s a dream come true and I am looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s another level, and now we are there, we want to do really well.”

Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market, but they’re still negotiating deals for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig forward Xavi Simons.