Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has advised midfielder Moises Caicedo to free himself mentally in order to regain his form. Take 1A £1.5bn UK transfer record, signing Caicedo from Brighton, has struggled to function under Pochettino and the coaching staff due to frequent travels to South America to play for Ecuador, hindering his development. After being sent off on his debut against West Ham United, Caicedo spent most of his time alone in his hotel room, feeling homesick after leaving Independiente del Valé in Ecuador.
Despite his success at Brighton, Caicedo has failed to repeat his form at Chelsea. Pochettino admits the player's mood and international affairs have had an impact on his performances. He stressed the importance of giving Caicedo time to recover and not judging him unfairly.
To help him settle in at Chelsea, Pochettino had a one-on-one meeting with Caicedo to advise him to stay calm amid the challenges of playing for Chelsea and representing Ecuador in World Cup qualifying. Pochettino stressed the need for Caicedo to show his talent on the pitch and to be mentally and physically ready. He mentioned the shortcomings of the players not doing pre-season training and the importance of the time it takes to adapt. The head coach hopes that with support and guidance, Caicedo will be able to overcome his difficulties and rediscover his form at Chelsea.