Latest news with #MoisesCaicedo
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Sensational' Chelsea player underrated for role in PSG win – it's not Gusto or Palmer
Chelsea's Club World Cup win over PSG was so impressive not just because of the trophy we got to lift afterwards, but also because of the standard of the performance against truly exceptional opposition. Key players and coach praised for dominant Chelsea win The Blues had to take on a PSG team which had carried all before them in all competitions this season, yet not only did Enzo Maresca's men come out on top, they actually dominated the whole game. The manager has had plenty of praise for his excellent tactics which undid the Parisians, and players like Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto have also had their flowers for some great performances. But on ESPN's post game show, Don Hutchison picked out another star who had played a major role in helping the Blues to a win – Moises Caicedo, who kept us his superb form in midfield. You can see them discussing the Ecuador star in the clip embedded here: 'Sensational' Caicedo helps Chelsea dominate midfield Moises Caicedo holds off Joao Neves. (Photo by) 'I thought Caicedo was sensational,' Hutchison said. 'Trying to stop that three man midfield of Paris Saint Germain, which I think is right up there with the best three midfielders [in the world] in their quality and way they complement each other.' We were really worried about the PSG midfield before the game. They had passed teams off the park all year, showing great composure on the ball and great energy to win it back when they lost it. But for whatever reason, in this game they just never looked interested, and couldn't get on Chelsea's level until the game was essentially already won. Huge credit for that has to go to Caicedo, who showed off all the best parts of his skillset to keep them at bay.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Fantasy Premier League introduce new 'overlooked' points scoring rule leaving fans baffled
Fantasy Premier League has decided to try and level the playing field for defenders and defensive midfielders for the 2025/26 season by tweaking the point scoring rules Fantasy Premier League players beware: there are changes to the game for the 2025/26 season. The makers of the free game have been evolving it every year, adding more and more features, and that has continued this summer. Last season saw the introduction of the assistant manager chip, whereby players were given the chance to earn points from the results of one team. And now there is another factor for FPL players to consider in the form of defensive contributions. Typically, FPL players select their squad based on attacking contributions, picking attacking full-backs or towering centre-backs to fill their back line. That is because defenders can only really earn points from clean sheets or bonuses, as well as goals and assists. But FPL bosses have now tried to address that trend by introducing another point-scoring metric. From this season, defenders and defensive midfielders – previously neglected classes of players – will become newly sought after. That's because the meat and drink of defenders – clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles – will now be recognised and rewarded. Defenders who rack up a combined 10 of those per match will earn two points. Meanwhile, defensive midfielders may not be pointless picks now, because, as well as clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles, their 'ball recoveries' will also count towards their total of defensive contributions. To illustrate the changes, FPL have explained that, based on last season's numbers, Everton 's James Tarkowski would've notched a further 44 points via this rule. He tops the charts ahead of Chelsea midfield destroyer Moises Caicedo and Southampton centre-back Jan Bednarek. People don't always like change and there was a mixed reaction to the announcement. 'Totally unacceptable scoring,' one fan wrote on X. 'Let it make sense please, when defenders score, their point per goal is higher than when a forward scores because the forwards are more likely to see goals per match. 'Now you bring a scoring system to balance up the relevance of defence and you set a higher mark for forwards, who are less likely to get defensive points than a defender who is always active at the back. Doesn't add up.' However, there were plenty of positive responses. 'Finally defensive midfielders won't be useless,' one reply read. Another wrote: 'Capping at 2 points is an excellent idea – it keeps it simple. This is an awesome change, fair play!' A third person wrote: 'So midfielders who are good at leading the press playing for high pressing teams will have a slight advantage. On the other hand defenders who play for teams that sit in deep blocks might have more blocks or clearances but might concede too. Interesting, it'll be fun.' A fourth concluded: 'This will shake things up massively and will take some getting used to. Will be a lottery picking some stand out players for these extra points'. FPL have also announced that players will now get two bench boosts, free hits, triple captains and wildcards per season. That means players will be encouraged to use their first batch before week 19, with their allocation then resetting.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maresca weighs up whether Caicedo and João Pedro could start against PSG
Enzo Maresca has discussed Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro's chances of featuring in our starting XI for Sunday's Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside Chelsea's Club World Cup celebrations: Moises Caicedo is back leading the karaoke, stars party with Tom Brady and Cole Palmer's passionate greeting to fans
Moises Caicedo was at the heart of Chelsea 's celebrations once again as the Blues toasted their FIFA Club World Cup success at a party in New York. Enzo Marseca's side earned a surprise 3-0 victory over reigning champions PSG on Sunday night to win the first edition of the expanded 32-team tournament. Cole Palmer scored twice in the first half before providing the assist for Joao Pedro to net the third in the final. After Chelsea were awarded the trophy by US President Donald Trump, who bizarrely remained at the heart of the presentation, Blues stars celebrated on the pitch with members of their family. Enzo Marseca's jubilant squad then returned to their team hotel, where hundreds of fans had gathered to toast the newly crowned world champions. Palmer was among the first players off the bus, with the player of the tournament giving an uncharacteristically emotional reaction. The 23-year-old, still wearing his match shirt and medal was seen clutching his Golden Ball award as he walked towards fans. Palmer roared in their direction and gestured for them to continue to make noise as his team-mates continued to disembark. Chelsea players and staff were then treated to a private event to toast their success and celebrate a successful end to a gruelling 11-month season. The season had seen Maresca lead Chelsea to Champions League qualification and Conference League success, before triumphing at the Club World Cup. As he had done in Poland after the Conference League, footage from the celebrations showed Caicedo leading the squad with kareoke. The Blues star was seen holding a microphone and singing, with the midfielder sporting sunglasses and a t-shirt emblazoned with the words 'world champions' and the number 25. Chelsea stars were joined at the event by NFL legend Tom Brady, the seven-time SuperBowl winner. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall asked 'What are we?' before adding emojis of the world and a trophy. Brady, who is now a minority owner of Birmingham City, had watched the final from the stands at the MetLife Stadium and had been seen in Trump's box. Enzo Fernandez and new Chelsea signing Dario Essugo were among those pictured with Brady during their afterparty. Reflecting on being part of the success so earlier in his Chelsea career, Essugo wrote on social media 'Not even in my dreams, thanks GOD for so many blessings'. Fernandez had shared an Instagram post with Brady and labelled him as the 'GOAT', while a separate post wrote 'CHELSEA !!! CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD'. Chelsea stars showed off their winners medals in numerous photos, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall asking 'What are we?' before adding emojis of the world and a trophy. Levi Colwill wrote 'Winners win' in his social media post, with the defender also seen biting his medal. The 22-year-old had been bullish about Chelsea's chances of downing PSG on the eve of the final and had been proved right as the Blues dismantled the European champions. Head coach Enzo Maresca, the mastermind of Chelsea's success, was also pictured with members of staff at the New York party. Footage shared by Chelsea from their dressing room also contained a short interview with recent signing Joao Pedro. The recent £60m signing from Brighton has made a stunning start to his Chelsea career, having scored twice in the semi-finals before netting their third in the final. 'Joao, you were on holiday and now you are a world champion,' he was told in the clip. Pedro responded 'What can I say, this is Chelsea.
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Club World Cup final: How Chelsea replicated PSG's pressing tactics with an added long ball twist to beat UEFA Champions League winners in their own game
Ahead of the Club World Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, experts predicted a one-sided affair. And it turned out to be just that. But not exactly in the way that everyone would have thought. In a glorious flipping of the script, everyone's favourites PSG with their sleek brand of football were torn apart by the much less fancied London club. In a way, they out-PSG'd PSG, employing their own weapon against them – the high press. With the pressure of winning the final all on PSG, Chelsea started the match much like the current UEFA Champions League winners- running all over the field and giving opponents no room to manoeuvre. It was as if the two teams had suddenly swapped souls. Chelsea were suddenly the fast paced, gegenpressing side while PSG, after demolishing Real Madrid deploying the same brand of football, looked unsure for the very first time in the tournament. This uncertainty permeating through the PSG ranks was what ultimately helped Chelsea catch them unawares. With the pressure off them, the Blues started with a newfound vigour, snapping at their more fancied opponents' heels as they did not let PSG settle on the ball. More often than not, PSG have relied on this same tactic where they pressed opponents from the get go, got an early goal and then piled up the pressure. On Sunday, Chelsea were one step ahead with Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Reece James cutting off PSG's supply line to start their own attack. With Chelsea shutting down PSG's midfield engine, the well-oiled machine hit a snag. That is where the current UEFA Conference League winners employed their lethal counter and long balls with Cole Palmer and new boy Joa Pedro right at the heart of it. French full back Malo Gusto, meanwhile, created all sorts of nuisance on the wings as PSG's Nuno Mendes was caught out of position at inopportune moments as the French champions looked to find a way through the compact Chelsea defence. Forever first. Forever iconic. @ChelseaFC | #FIFACWC — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 14, 2025 The need to press high was what ultimately unravelled PSG's defence with Gusto getting a free rein to charge down the right wing and going deep inside the opponent's box. He tried a shot which was blocked and he ultimately fed the ball to Palmer who finished exquisitely with his left foot to give Chelsea the lead in 22 mins. The finish of the second goal was almost a carbon copy of the first as Palmer ran through a spent PSG midfield, cut in from the right, pulled off a majestic feint and with another left-footed strike found the back of the net in the 30th min. A lot of eyebrows were raised when Chelsea had snapped up Palmer for £40 million from Manchester City in September 2023 with a lot of the London club's recent signings imploding. The boy from Wythenshawe, Manchester was thought to be another such costly mistake. But Palmer burst into life as soon as he switched the shade of blue of his jersey, banging in 27 goals and 15 assists in what turned out to be his breakout season. The expectations were through the roof ahead of the 2024/25 season but a bit of a dry patch had the detractors sharpening their knives again. The 23-year-old ultimately finished the season with 15 goals and 9 assists in the EPL but what really shut up the naysayers was his performance in the Conference League final and now the Club World Cup final. With Pedro as Chelsea's new target man, Palmer has looked way more comfortable feeding the ball to the Brazilian rather than a misfiring Nicolas Jackson. And they have linked up just twice since Pedro's £60m move from Brighton in July 2025. The third goal that sealed PSG's fate was the result of the very same combination with Palmer wrong footing the PSG defence with an intelligent pass to Pedro who had run behind and finished it off with a deft chip over Gianluigi Donnarumma with the score 3-0 going into half time. With the Palmer-Pedro combination, Chelsea might be on their way in duplicating their very own Kevin de Bruyne-Erling Haaland partnership which bodes well for their title challenge next season. With players like Liam Delap also in contention and Enzo Maresca at the wheel, the Chelsea Project might just be coming into fruition. PSG, meanwhile, will have to go back to the drawing board with their long and exhausting season finally coming to a close with a boatload of trophies, something that was unimaginable when their talismanic forward Kylian Mbappe left at the start of the season. Coach Luis Enrique will now need to find a way around the weaknesses that Chelsea laid bare, especially against long balls, ahead of the new season.
