Gary Neville claims Chelsea player has gone from ‘awful’ to ‘outstanding’ in 2024

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It’s been yet another turbulent year at Chelsea that’s been full of change on and off the pitch.

The calendar year started in 2024 with Chelsea struggling for consistency under Mauricio Pochettino’s management last season. Also, the critics loved to pile in with discussions about the expensively assembled young Blues squad.

If you skip to the present day, Enzo Maresca is now in the manager’s dugout and the general mood around the club is far more positive.

Chelsea ended 2024 with the disappointment of losing 2-0 away to Ipswich Town yesterday, but they’re fourth in the league table after a pretty decent first half of the season.

• READ MORE: Ranking the top five Chelsea goals in 2024, including Cole Palmer winner and Moises Caicedo screamer

Gary Neville hails Moises Caicedo turnaround at Chelsea

Gary Neville has just named his Premier League team of the season so far, which included Chelsea duo Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo.

The Sky Sports pundit delivered special praise on Caicedo by claiming that he’s gone from “awful” to “outstanding” during his second season at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old defensive midfielder is consistently performing in the Blues XI, so it’s great to see him get some recognition for his huge improvement.

After naming Caicedo in his team of the season so far, Neville told Sky Sports: “He was fantastic at Brighton. He came to Chelsea and looked awful in a Chelsea shirt. That partnership with Enzo Fernandez in midfield just wasn’t working at all. But he’s been so much better this season. So much more settled.

“I think when he plays with [Romeo] Lavia he plays well. Actually, Enzo Fernandez has come back into the team in recent week as well and he’s looking even better with him. He looks like the player that they signed. He’s been the outstanding player.”

Caicedo, who joined Chelsea from Brighton in the summer of 2023, had a very challenging debut season with them last year. However, the midfield enforcer is playing his best football in the 2024/25 campaign.

Caicedo is inspired by Chelsea legends N’Golo Kante and Claude Makelele, which is obvious to see with the way he plays the game.

What Gary Neville said about Moises Caicedo back in February

Caicedo certainly came under-fire for some heavy criticism during his first season as a Chelsea player, including from Neville himself.

In particular, Neville destroyed Caicedo after Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool back in February 2024. He told Sky Sports: “At Brighton, you thought that he (Caicedo) was actually quite good on the ball, but you watch him here at Chelsea, absolutely shocking at times in possession.”

Thankfully, the Ecuador international eventually found his feet in Chelsea colours by finishing last season strongly. He’s carried that momentum into this term and belongs in anyone’s team of the season so far.

Jason Cundy rates Caicedo as Chelsea’s most important player, someone who’s even more vital than Palmer.