Mauricio Pochettino has now admitted that one of his key Chelsea players has been struggling off the pitch in recent weeks.
He told the Evening Standard that Moises Caicedo had been affected by what is going on in his native Ecuador right now.
Caicedo is the club’s record addition, and has been fit for the majority of the season.
However, some have been left expecting a little bit more from his performances up to now.
He has begun to form a partnership with Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the park, however even that duo has not escaped criticism.
There may well be a reason for his underwhelming performances though. The situation surrounding gang attacks is extremely tense in the South American country right now.
However, Pochettino has said that the player has informed him it has eased slightly, and he is beginning to improve off the pitch.
Pochettino on struggling Caicedo
He said: “He is okay now, he is better now, he feels better. He says the situation there is not normal but it is improving, and now it is more relaxed. It is true that a few weeks ago he was really worried.
“The situation is not easy in South America; it is not only in Ecuador. Normally, the club cares for him, and for everyone.
“If you have problems, the club is there to try to help us in different ways. It has happened. It is a good thing for the club to help the player because we need him in his best condition to compete.
“You know very well that this could affect the player’s performance.”
Caicedo is almost a certainty to start tonight in what is shaping up to easily be Chelsea’s biggest game of the season.
They will face Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge, needing to turn around a 1-0 first leg deficit to book their place at Wembley.
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