November 4th 2024.
Former England striker and current Match of the Day host, Gary Lineker, had high praise for Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo after their recent draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite United taking the lead with a penalty from Bruno Fernandes, Lineker believed Caicedo was the best player on the pitch.
United had a chaotic week leading up to the match, but they looked to be ending it on a high note until Chelsea equalized just five minutes after falling behind. Caicedo scored a stunning volley after a corner fell to him, and the draw left United in 13th place while Chelsea moved up to fourth.
On The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said, "Chelsea may not have been at their scintillating best, but they know what they're doing, and you'd always consider a point against United a decent result. Overall, I thought Moises Caicedo was the best player on the pitch. He's really come into his own recently."
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards agreed with Lineker, saying, "I thought Caicedo was outstanding today. He's found his confidence and is playing like the Caicedo we saw at Brighton. He ran the midfield, but there's a disconnect between United's midfield and their striker, Rasmus Hojlund."
Richards also commented on the job ahead for United's new manager, Ruben Amorim, saying, "He has a massive job on his hands. United were there for the taking, and that would be my only worry for Chelsea. But overall, it's been a great start to the season for them. The question now is, can they keep it up?"
Caicedo had a disappointing debut season at Stamford Bridge after his £100 million move from Brighton in 2023, but he looks to be back in top form this season. United hosted Chelsea during a week where former manager Erik ten Hag was fired, and Amorim was appointed as the new manager, although he won't take charge until November 11. Current interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy was in charge for the Chelsea match and will continue to lead the team for the upcoming Europa League game and Premier League clash.
Van Nistelrooy was pleased with United's performance against Chelsea but was slightly disappointed that they couldn't secure the win after taking the lead. "Overall, it was a very good performance. The players fought for every inch of the pitch, and it was great to watch. We had chances to score another goal and win the game, so I'm slightly disappointed we couldn't do that."
On his future at the club with Amorim expected to bring in his own coaching staff, Van Nistelrooy said, "It's been an emotional rollercoaster. My job was to steady the ship, and the players reacted well. I'm here to help the club in any way I can. After these two games, that will continue, and hopefully, it will work out."
He also expressed his enjoyment at being back in the city and at the club, saying, "It's special to be back here. I love every minute of it. I try to share the club's culture and the fans' spirit with the players. That's an important part for me. I'm glad I can experience these moments and help the players understand the club's spirit. I saw that spirit on the pitch in the last two games, and that's the foundation for growth."
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