It was in defence of the struggling Enzo Fernandez that, ahead of this contest, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had strangely insisted that a £100million-plus price-tag ought not to come with any added expectation or responsibility.
Thank heavens, then, for Chelsea’s sake that Moises Caicedo does not appear to subscribe to the same theory.
In perhaps his finest performance in a blue shirt yet, Caicedo confirmed his return to the level of form that convinced Chelsea to part with a similar fee, both their match-leveller and then late saviour in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
A string of quietly excellent performances had gone largely unnoticed beyond Stamford Bridge so far this term, but this, in the Premier League weekend’s plum fixture, was the kind of display that shifts the narrative dial.
The Ecuadorian’s equalising goal was as superb as it was uncharacteristic, a stunning volley from the edge of the box after the invariably involved Casemiro had headed a corner clear.
That had come after Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot for a United visibly enlivened by Erik ten Hag’s departure, Ruben Amorim’s appointment and club legend Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s employment in the interim.
Had the same player not skied a glorious late chance, the home side might have taken three points. Certainly, they would have had Caicedo not tracked substitute Joshua Zirkzee into the heart of his own six-yard box to make a vital, goal-saving clearance deep into stoppage time.
Perhaps unfairly to both, Caicedo and Fernandez were for much of last season coupled as one ill-advised, £200m splurge, their ineffectiveness at the heart of the side an embodiment of the poor-decision making and excess spending central to the club’s plight. On the opening day of this season, when Mateo Kovacic, sold for around a quarter of either player’s price, weaved between the pair to strike a Manchester City clincher, not much seemed to have changed.
Increasingly, though, the midfielders’ Chelsea careers appear on starkly different paths. Indeed, when Fernandez did eventually make it onto the pitch here, having again been left out in favour of Romeo Lavia, his most notable contribution was in lifting over from Nicolas Jackson’s lay-off when he should really have made it 2-1.
Even before his goal, Caicedo had been the game’s standout player. He was tenacious, pressed only in opportune moments, closed spaces and moved the ball sharply between the lines. In short, he did everything that United’s midfield typically does not.
So, perhaps this was always a game ripe for 23-year-old to excel. Casemiro had some good moments on the ball in direct opposition, including with the terrific pass that led to his side’s penalty, but his partnership with Manuel Ugarte did nothing to fix this United team’s core weakness without the ball.
Still, they lack a player with the mobility and authority of a Declan Rice, Rodri or, on this season’s improvement, Ryan Gravenberch.
It is easy to forget that before leaving Brighton, Caicedo was spoken of within that bracket. Indeed, Arsenal wanted to sign him around the same time they got Rice, and Liverpool tried desperately to do so, only to find Chelsea willing to pay more.
It has taken a while, but that decision is almost starting to look justified.
