Maresca Confirms Caicedo’s Ankle Injury

During Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final match against Fluminense on Tuesday, midfielder Moisés Caicedo suffered a left ankle injury.

Following a suspension that sidelined him for the quarter-final against Palmeiras, Caicedo made a comeback and displayed his talent on the field.

However, late in the second half, the Ecuadorian player twisted his ankle but continued playing since Chelsea had already made all five substitutions.

Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, verified that Caicedo had indeed twisted his ankle.

“Moisés twisted his ankle,” Maresca stated.

“With only a few minutes remaining, I advised him that we could proceed with 10 players. The priority was to avoid worsening the injury, considering our game on Sunday. He felt he could try, but he experienced pain. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for Sunday. We will assess his condition.”

Ahead of Sunday’s final, The Blues are hoping for Caicedo’s swift return. The Brazilian shared photos from the semi-final on Instagram with the caption “Great team performance, see you on Sunday, Blues,” seemingly downplaying concerns about the injury.

Chelsea clinched their spot in the Club World Cup final by defeating Fluminense 2-0, with Joao Pedro delivering an impressive performance in his debut, scoring both goals.

The 23-year-old Brazilian forward, who recently transferred to Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion for £60 million ($81.5 million), initiated the scoring in the 18th minute with a remarkable curling shot.

Early in the second half, he extended the lead, concluding a counter-attack that he started by winning possession in midfield and collaborating with Pedro Neto on the right wing.

In Sunday’s final, Chelsea is set to compete against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.