The wheels have come off at Chelsea a little bit since the turn of the year.
Before Christmas, Chelsea were seen as title contenders. However, in recent months, the Blues have seriously dipped.
There are a few ongoing issues at Chelsea. Cole Palmer is out of form, while Enzo Maresca has been questioned.
Speaking on the Kelly and Wrighty Show, Ian Wright has been discussing Chelsea’s recent problems, and he’s picked out the fact that Moises Caicedo has been playing at right-back recently.
Wright isn’t a fan of Caicedo playing in that role, claiming that it’s unacceptable that the South American is being played in this position.
Ian Wright blasts Enzo Maresca for using Moises Caicedo at right- back
Wright spoke about Caicedo playing at right-back in recent weeks.
The pundit says that there’s not enough experience in the side for Maresca to pull a stunt like this, claiming that it’s unacceptable.
“When you’re looking at a Chelsea side, there’s not enough experience to have a player go away and play right-back and give him the support he needs,” Wright said.
“It comes down to the manager, I don’t know what’s happened, but that for me is unacceptable, it’s unacceptable. I’m sorry, we’re talking about a Chelsea side who have to be in the Champions League. They have to be in it. He’s making decisions that are very worrying, particularly in that incident.”
Midfielders who became full-backs
Wright says that this is an unacceptable situation for Chelsea, but, interestingly, it’s been a different story when it comes to Arsenal this season.
Indeed, Ian Wright has hailed Myles Lewis-Skelly for his adaptability playing at left-back this season, despite being a midfield player, but when Caicedo is given the same task it’s ‘unacceptable’.
Of course, ultimately, it does come down to results, and Chelsea aren’t performing recently, but using Caicedo at right-back isn’t the worst idea in the world.
Maresca clearly wants to get Romeo Lavia, Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez all in the same team, and this is certainly one way to do it.
Caicedo was fantastic at right-back against Liverpool, and that mustn’t be forgotten.
A number of players have transitioned from being midfielders into being full-backs over the years.
| Midfielders who became full-backs |
| Myles Lewis-Skelly |
| Philipp Lahm |
| Joshua Kimmich |
| Fabian Delph |
| Eduardo Camavinga |
| Moises Caicedo |
Maresca is trying something different here, and while it didn’t work out at the weekend, Chelsea did dominate the second-half of that game with 10-men, so it’s not all doom and gloom for the Blues.
