FOXES FEAR ‘EXTRA INCENTIVE’
ANOTHER young central defender with huge potential who put in a standout Champions League display for Porto against Arsenal in midweek.
He is physically strong, has great timing on tackles, standing or sliding, and has speed to get his team out of jail when opponents break in behind. AGE: 21 HEIGHT: 6ft 2in (1.88m)
NATIONALITY: Brazilian
CLUB: FC Porto (Portugal)
CONTRACT EXPIRES:
POSITION: Centre-back
FOOT: Left
STYLE: Strong, bullish and hands-on
TRACKED BY: None
MARKET VALUE: £15million
WHY BUY HIM? Has the quality to become one of the best centre-backs in Europe. He needs regular minutes to continue developing at his current rate, but could be worth a punt now – before his transfer value explodes.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is sure we are starting to see why Chelsea were willing to spend £115million on Moises Caicedo.
Or at least glimpses of why.
For while accepting that the recent progress of the Stamford Bridge midfielder IS promising – and that he is at long last settling in at the club – there is still plenty more required, insists Poch.
The Blues boss stated that loud and clear when discussing the form of the most expensive player in British transfer history, ahead of today’s FA Cup quarter-final against Championship leaders Leicester City.
If Caicedo’s display in Monday’s 3-1 league win over Newcastle United could be deemed his best 90 minutes yet, since arriving in August from Brighton, then Poch is demanding that level is his bare minimum every week moving forward.
Cracking the whip, the Argentine coach said: “He’s getting better and better. We expect more.
“The performance from him against Newcastle was good but we’re going to put more pressure on him to get better and improve every day.
“Always, it is difficult to repeat past performances.
“After a process where he needed to adapt in every single way – too many ways – he’s doing really well.
“This is the minimum standard for him now, and from there to grow and to be better.”
Chelsea’s mad billion-pound spending spree in three windows by American owner Todd Boehly has proved anything but an instant route to success on the pitch.
But among all the big-money buys none appeared to feel the pressure of their inflated price tag more than Caicedo.
The Ecuador star’s previously tidy, combative style in the heart of Brighton’s midfield, so admired on the south coast, suddenly became conspicuous by its absence in south west London. Asked what has been key to the recent transformation in Caicedo, 22, and what part he himself played behind the scenes to spark it, Poch answered: “Support.”
He went on: “It’s not only to keep playing him, but the way you approach him in the morning, in meetings and talking – and sometimes doing things away from the training ground.
“There’s many ways to help him feel better, and to feel happy. The
ENZO MARESCA has backed Mauricio Pochettino to get it right at Chelsea – but reckons out of all the Premier League’s managers only Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp can consider themselves ‘bulletproof’.
It has been a difficult first Chelsea season for Argentine coach Pochettino, with the Blues failing to challenge at the top.
But Leicester manager Maresca (right), who was assistant to Guardiola at Manchester City last season before taking player needs to feel good, happy and settled. Now he is much happier, still a percentage to go, but much better.” The same comment applies to Chelsea as they attempt to rescue a second turbulent campaign in a row by winning a first piece of silverware in three years.
The visit of Enzo Maresca’s Leicester outfit is the sixth time this term Poch’s Blues have faced lowerleague opposition in the cups. With the Foxes job, said: “I think [all managers are under threat] unless in this moment you are Pep and Jurgen. But probably the reason they are there is because they deserve it.
“They are two of the best managers in the world. For the rest it’s more complicated.
“Pochettino joined a club last summer and so did I. Both of us are more or less in the same situation – we are both trying to make the transition. Every club has different problems, but he is a fantastic manager.”
Maresca believes that Chelsea are turning
Maresca having been assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City before taking up the Foxes’ reins, a tricky test for the Carabao Cup finalists is expected.
Pochettino, who took out Leeds in the last round, added: “Guardiola’s one of the best coaches in the world but you add your own character and ideas. You can’t replicate somebody else.
“We respect other coaches in their own right and, for sure, Maresca has something different. We admire the type of football he’s producing.” a corner, and said: “If you watch them you can see it. The only real target for them now is the FA Cup so that will be an extra incentive for them.”
Today’s quarter-final revisits the 2021 FA Cup Final, which Leicester won, but Maresca isn’t taking inspiration from it.
The Foxes boss added: “No, because those among our players that were involved in that final are the same who got relegated last year – so every season in football is different.”