Real Madrid vs Chelsea: Caicedo calls start to Stamford Bridge career ‘really tough’

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has spoken astir nan “really tough” commencement he knowledgeable astatine Stamford Bridge aft making a British-record £115 cardinal transportation from Brighton & Hove Albion successful August 2023.

Ecuador world Caicedo had established himself arsenic 1 of nan champion midfielders successful nan Premier League and won Albion’s Player of nan Season grant during his last run astatine nan club.

A tally of six wins successful 18 Premier League matches launched different underwhelming play for Chelsea successful 2023/24, pinch a sixth-placed decorativeness and Manchester United’s astonishment FA Cup triumph meaning nan immense spenders had to settee for Uefa Europa Conference League qualification.

💪🇪🇨 Midfielder Moises Caicedo has now joined up pinch nan squad successful California!#BluesInTheUSA pic.twitter.com/IpxPNuJx0D

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 23, 2024

Caicedo: Chelsea ‘different’

“Sometimes, if you are not beardown successful your mind, it is difficult,” said nan 22-year-old, who made 48 appearances. “After each game, I watch my game.

“A feline I speak to regularly told me, ‘Moises, you are a bully player, you tin do immoderate you want connected nan transportation pinch responsibility. Just spot successful yourself. If Chelsea paid that [much money] for you, it’s because you are a very bully player’.

“At nan opening it was reliable for maine because it is simply a large nine and that you ever person to triumph each game. It was reliable for maine arsenic I was astatine Brighton, wherever nan unit is less. Chelsea is different.

“There’s a batch of unit because of nan club’s history, nan players who were present [previously]. It was really tough… but successful nan past 4 aliases 5 months I felt much comfortable astatine nan nine because I had a batch of group astir me.”

Chelsea’s Goal of nan Season winner: Moises Caicedo! 🚀🔥 pic.twitter.com/bhmonulHfk

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 1, 2024

Chelsea vs Real Madrid

Caicedo could measurement up his preparations for nan caller play erstwhile Chelsea look Real Madrid’s astatine Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium connected Wednesday (12am BST).

The erstwhile Independiente del Valle imaginable has only featured for 45 minutes successful pre-season truthful acold while he recovers from his engagement successful Ecuador’s tally to nan quarter-finals of nan 2024 Copa America, losing to champions Argentina connected penalties.

Former Leicester City head Enzo Maresca has replaced Mauricio Pochettino, who near Chelsea by communal consent successful May, and overseen a tally of 1 triumph successful 4 matches connected nan club’s US tour.

“He plays for illustration nan aforesaid strategy that I played successful Brighton,” Caicedo said of nan Italian. “He wants nan same. He wants maine to show my quality, to person bully personality, to show to my team-mates that I americium nan leader connected nan pitch. For sure, I will beryllium a bully subordinate pinch him.”

Chelsea return to England for a location friends against Inter Milan connected Sunday (3pm). Maresca’s first competitory lucifer successful complaint will beryllium astatine location to Manchester City connected August 18 (4.30pm).