Why Gusto struggles and Caicedo’s new position could have major effect on Chelsea’s next 2 transfer windows

The team news for Chelsea’s game against Tottenham is out, and it’s a return to the same team we saw against Aston Villa last weekend – with the exception of Benoit Badiashile replacing the injured Wesley Fofana.

As the season has gone on, Enzo Maresca has tinkered back and forth with his preferred XI, and at the moment this is his favoured setup.

Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho have each had their time as a starter and each had their time on the bench in the wide positions, but Maresca’s midweek criticism of Madueke’s training levels surely means that Neto and Sancho are the preferred options for now.

The most interesting element of the whole formation is the use of Moises Caicedo on the right of defence. Of course he will come into midfield when Chelsea have the ball, but so did Reece James and Malo Gusto when they played there. You can paint it how you like, the Ecuador star is playing at right back.

Gusto in the cold after bright start fades

It’s a role that suited him and the setup that suited Chelsea, and we’re excited to see how it works out today. But there’s no doubt that it’s a major knock on Malo Gusto. After a really bright start to his Chelsea career where he was hailed as one of the best value signings under the Clearlake-Boehly ownership, he has really struggled this season, and this selection is strong evidence of that.

It will be very interesting to see how the squad planning goes in January and next summer – will the priority be to buy a right back and allow Caicedo back into midfield, or does Maresca like him so much at right back that we could see a new midfielder bought instead?