Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has publicly acknowledged he is ‘having a few problems’ while on international duty with Ecuador, sparking fresh concerns over his fitness at Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old, a pivotal figure since his £115 million move from Brighton in August 2023, candidly stated: “I’m a little... Fine, a bit tired, having a few problems, but well, I’m here. Honestly, my national team is what matters most to me... I’m making a huge effort to be here, and I’m very happy about that.” This admission arrives as the Blues prepare for a challenging run of fixtures post-international break.
This revelation adds worry for Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, as Caicedo’s season has already been hampered by a calf injury that sidelined him for weeks. Despite this, the industrious midfielder has shown resilience, starting Chelsea’s last six games. Notably, he missed training last week but played the full 90 minutes in their 1-0 defeat to Sunderland. This term marks a deviation from his past record; last season, Caicedo missed only four league matches due to suspensions, and prior to this season, his injury record since joining Chelsea was largely spotless, with just two games missed through injury or illness.
Caicedo’s commitment to ‘La Tri’ is evident in his determination to feature, despite physical concerns. Ecuador faces Costa Rica on November 13, then Bolivia four days later. The South American nation seeks their first victory since a 2-1 triumph over Germany in this year’s World Cup group stage. Since that win, Ecuador was eliminated in the round of 32 by co-hosts Mexico and registered no victories against South Korea, Japan, and Panama during the last international break. Caicedo himself did not participate in any of Ecuador's last three fixtures.
As the international window concludes, Xabi Alonso will keenly monitor Caicedo’s condition, hoping his key midfielder returns to west London unscathed. Chelsea faces a demanding schedule upon their return to Premier League action, kicking off against ninth-placed Leeds on November 21. This period continues with Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, before a formidable stretch featuring Liverpool on December 5, Manchester City on December 12, and Aston Villa. Caicedo operating at less than full capacity during such a pivotal sequence will undoubtedly concern the Chelsea hierarchy.
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