Chelsea's £115m star beat Real Madrid man to 'best in the world' award after strong start to the season
Chelsea star named best in the world in latest rankings.
Moises Caicedo’s strong start to the season has not gone unnoticed, with the CIES (International Centre for Sports Studies) naming him the best under-23 player in the world. Caicedo has already taken up a leadership role at Chelsea, even captaining the side when Enzo Fernandez is unavailable.
He has started all of Chelsea’s first five games of the season, barely missing a beat, and building on his performances from last season, when he truly came into his own. Signed from Brighton for a record-breaking fee, it took him some time to find his rhythm, but those who doubted him are now reconsidering their views due to his impressive form this season.
The football observatory body has confirmed that the Chelsea star tops the list of best players in his age group, which also includes Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, Warren Zaire-Emery, and Ajax’s highly promising Ryan Gravenberch.
The former Brighton man has made more tackles than any other player in the Premier League this season, and his tactical flexibility allows him to execute complex instructions effectively.
Against Crystal Palace, it was Caicedo who slotted into the defensive line to form a back three when Chelsea had possession. When Malo Gusto got injured, he shifted to right-back, and he has also played as a deep-lying midfielder and in central midfield, adapting seamlessly to Chelsea's tactically fluid system.
Asked why the team keeps alternating tactics, after the win against Barrow, Maresca told LondonWorld: “Of course it’s work, but we always do that because we take into consideration how the opposition is set up. But the general idea is to create an overload and give the player on the ball more than just one option to pass.”
Chelsea have been unbeaten since their opening-day defeat to Manchester City, and they will be hoping to continue their fine form when a tricky Brighton side visits Stamford Bridge this weekend.