Chelsea legend Mikel Obi says Moises Caicedo's absence hurting Blues' defence

Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel says midfielder Moises Caicedo’s calf injury has been a major miss for the club this season, with the Ecuadorian playing just 14 minutes so far. Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Mikel noted that Chelsea have scored 18 goals but conceded 12 in six matches across all competitions, including a defeat to Arsenal and a 2-2 home draw with newly promoted Hull City. He said Caicedo’s energy, ability to break up plays, start attacks and shield the back four is comparable to what Declan Rice provides for Arsenal, and his absence has left the Blues less solid defensively. Mikel added that once Caicedo returns, he is confident Chelsea will become a much stronger team and improve significantly. The Blues currently sit in a challenging early-season run, and the midfielder’s recovery timeline remains unclear.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/15/epl-chelsea-missing-caicedo-mikel-obi/