Enzo Maresca has been told Moises Caicedo cannot continue playing out of position after Chelsea’s Premier League defeat at Newcastle United on Sunday.
In a huge game in the race for Champions League qualification, Chelsea were beaten 2-0 at St. James’ Park with Sandro Tonali opening the scoring in the second minute.
Nicolas Jackson was sent off in the first-half to add to the Blues’ woes but it was deserved victory for the Magpies who repeatedly targeted Caicedo at right-back.
For the third league game in a row, the defensive midfielder, recently voted Chelsea’s Player of the Season, started at full-back, having excelled their last week against Liverpool.
But the Ecuador international was at fault for Newcastle’s winner after getting pressed by Anthony Gordon and then failing to track Tonali’s run.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘He definitely switched off. Newcastle started so quickly, perfect start for them,’ former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch told TNT Sports.
‘Initially he does really well, Caicedo stays with Anthony Gordon and then they just get themselves in a right mess here.
‘Sandro Tonali’s pressing is unbelievable, his physicality, he’s always on the front foot. And then Caicedo just switches off.’
‘Last week I was surprised that Caicedo didn’t get sent off with the challenges he was putting in,’ former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘So what do Newcastle do? First minute they put the ball in behind him to Anthony Gordon and that eventually led to the goal.
‘When he is back there he just seems rash and out of position. He is Chelsea’s player of the year this season but he is out of position and Anthony Gordon is already giving him a tough time.’
Sensing the issue, Maresca changed things up at half-time, subbing Noni Madueke off for captain Reece James who relieved Caicedo at right-back, and though they lost, the Blues looked much better after the break.
‘Chelsea in this half now have square pegs in square holes and actually look like they know what they are doing,’ Nevin observed.
‘They have done since the first minute of the [second] half.’
The loss is a huge blow for Chelsea’s hopes of finishing in the top five and qualifying for the Champions League, as they could now finish the weekend in sixth if Nottingham Forest beat relegated Leicester City on Sunday.
The Blues face Manchester United and Forest in their final two Premier League games before the Conference League final against Real Betis on May 28.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.