Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo described his first season at the club as “tough,” admitting he lost confidence due to the pressure of his £115 million price tag.
The 22-year-old Ecuadorian joined the Blues from Brighton last August for an initial fee of £100 million, potentially rising to a British club record £115 million after a bidding war with Liverpool.
In his debut season, he scored one goal and registered four assists in 48 games as Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League. Manager Mauricio Pochettino departed in May.
“The beginning was tough for me because you are at a big club, the price, you always have to win every game,” Caicedo said. “It was tough because, at Brighton, the pressure is less. At Chelsea, it’s different. I felt a lot of pressure because of the club’s history and the players who were there. But after the last four or five months, I felt more comfortable at the club.”
When asked if he lost confidence, Caicedo responded, “Yes, confidence. I have the quality and know the player I am. But sometimes, if you are not strong mentally, it is difficult.”
Caicedo credited a performance coach and his former manager Pochettino for helping him regain his confidence.
“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,” he said. “I asked them, ‘Please help me because I want to show my quality, my football.’ They supported me. I also have a person outside of the club who helped me a lot to relieve the pressure.”
