‘Only Caicedo and Rodri’ — Maresca snubs Rice, puts Chelsea midfielder in top two in the world

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has sparked debate in the Premier League midfield hierarchy by declaring Moisés Caicedo one of the two best defensive midfielders in world football, placing him alongside Manchester City's Rodri and notably leaving out Arsenal star Declan Rice.

His comments came after Chelsea’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham, where Caicedo delivered a dominant display and provided the assist for the winning goal.

Following Chelsea’s London derby triumph, Maresca was effusive in his praise for Caicedo, crediting the Ecuadorian midfielder’s humility and impact on the pitch.

“Moi is showing how good he is. He’s top,” the Italian coach said, before adding, “Him and Rodri are the best defensive midfielders in the world.”

It was a bold endorsement, especially given the ongoing comparisons between Caicedo and Arsenal’s Declan Rice, whose £105m fee last year set the market before Chelsea shattered it to sign Caicedo for a record sum.

Caicedo backed his manager’s praise with action, producing a signature ball-winning display and bullying his way through Spurs’ midfield before setting up João Pedro for an easy finish.

The assist capped a commanding performance, showcasing the exact qualities Maresca believes separate him from the rest.

Chelsea’s victory over Spurs was crucial, temporarily lifting them into the Premier League’s top four and reinforcing their growing momentum under Maresca.

From the opening whistle, the Blues controlled proceedings, with Alejandro Garnacho and João Pedro testing Guglielmo Vicario early before Caicedo’s decisive burst led to the breakthrough in the 34th minute.

Tottenham struggled to respond, managing their first meaningful effort deep into stoppage time as Mohammed Kudus forced Robert Sánchez into action. Despite improved energy after the break, Spurs continued to chase shadows while Chelsea wasted multiple chances to kill the game.

Yet even in a tight scoreline, Caicedo’s dominance stood out, with the Ecuadorian midfielder dictating the tempo and breaking up play to ensure the Blues closed out the derby.