Moises Caicedo has revealed that the £115 million transfer fee he commanded when joining Chelsea from Brighton has weighed heavily on him, impacting his confidence and performance early on. The Ecuadorian midfielder, who set a British club record with his transfer last summer, faced a tough start at Stamford Bridge but has recently begun to find his footing.
In the 2023-2024 season, Caicedo scored only one goal and provided four assists in 48 appearances across all competitions. Reflecting on his initial difficulties, Caicedo shared that the pressure of living up to his hefty price tag and performing consistently at a high-profile club like Chelsea was overwhelming compared to his time at Brighton.
“The beginning was tough for me because you are at a big club, the price, you always have to win every game,” Caicedo explained to the BBC. “It was tough for me because when I was in Brighton, the pressure was less. At Chelsea, it is different. I felt a lot of pressure because you know the club, the history, the players who were there.”
Despite the challenges, Caicedo found support from former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino and a performance coach, which played a crucial role in helping him regain his confidence. “A lot of people around me helped me – Mauricio and his staff. They were with me when I felt like I was not the same Moises,” he said.
He credited a performance coach outside the club with providing valuable encouragement, telling him to trust in his abilities and embrace the responsibility of his role. “A guy I speak to regularly told me, ‘Moises, you are a good player, you can do whatever you want on the pitch with responsibility. Just trust in yourself. If Chelsea paid that [much money] for you, it’s because you are a very good player.’”
Looking forward, Caicedo expressed optimism about working with Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, noting that Maresca’s tactical approach closely aligns with his style of play at Brighton. “He wants me to show my quality, to have a good personality, to show to my teammates that I am the boss on the pitch,” Caicedo said.
Chelsea will have two pre-season friendlies soon: against Real Madrid tonight at 00:00 BST in Charlotte, United States, and against Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. These games will be crucial as the team prepares for the upcoming season.