Moises Caicedo makes start to life admission with Chelsea

Moises Caicedo says he struggled with his start to life at Chelsea because of the pressure of his £115m price tag, writes Edmund Brack.

The 22-year-old joined the west Londoners from Brighton last August for a £100m fee that could rise to a British record fee.

Ecuadorian Caicedo played 48 games in his debut season as Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League under Mauricio Pochettino.

Caicedo said: “The beginning was tough for me, because you are at a big club, the price, you always have to win every game.

“It was tough for me because when I was at Brighton, the pressure is less. At Chelsea, it is different. I felt a lot of pressure because you know the club, the history, the players who were there. But after the last four or five months, I felt more comfortable at the club.

“I have the quality and I know the player I am. But sometimes if you are not strong in your mind, it is difficult.

“A lot of people around me helped me – Mauricio and his staff. They were with me when I felt like I was not the same Moises. [I asked them] ‘Please help me because I want to show my quality, my football’. They were with me. I have a person outside of the club who helped me a lot to get the pressure out of my mind.”

Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea this summer from Leicester following their promotion to the Premier League.

The Italian boss has worked with his squad over pre-season as he gears up for his first full season in charge.

Caicedo said: “He wants me to show my quality, to have good personality, to show to my team-mates that I am the boss on the pitch.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD