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Pedro Neto losing it with Robert Sanchez speaks volumes as Moises Caicedo Chelsea truth revealed

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo celebrates scoring against Manchester United
-Credit: (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA)


"The home of the greatest football club in the world. The home of Manchester United."

Whether you agree with that statement from the stadium announcer or not, one thing is for sure: the place is brimming with history and constant reminders of just how massive Manchester United are as a football club. Chelsea know that - they know that all too well given their record at Old Trafford since 2013.

Since May 5, 2013, where Juan Mata scored the only goal of the game to give the Blues all three points, the two teams - going into Sunday's game - had faced each other 12 times in the Premier League. Chelsea had not won a single match in the red half of Manchester in over a decade.

Enzo Maresca would become the latest in charge at Chelsea to try and end the vicious hoodoo that has become an increasing annoyance and frustration for supporters over the last few years, given how poor United have been for the majority of that period. However, the Italian could not manage that - and his side really could have.

United, managed in the interim by Maresca's former Malaga teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy, were there for the taking. Sloppy in possession, unconvincing in attack and vulnerable in defence. But Chelsea could not find that second goal after Moises Caicedo cancelled out Bruno Fernandes' opener with a sensational strike on 74 minutes.

Bobby Vincent was live at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon and here are his talking points/moments missed...

Neto reaction to Sanchez

Thirty-nine minutes into Sunday's match, Pedro Neto was furious with Robert Sanchez for a decision he made. Sanchez collected the ball, looked up and there was Neto on his left, with the speedy Portuguese winger clearly signalling to the goalkeeper to pass him the ball.

READ MORE: Every word Enzo Maresca said on Chelsea draw with Man Utd, Martinez tackle, Caicedo performance

READ MORE: Caicedo world-class, James great but Gusto poor - Chelsea player ratings in Man Utd draw

There would have undoubtedly been a counter-attacking opportunity, especially considering the pace of Neto. Sanchez, however, chose not to take his colleague up on the offer and instead signalled with his hands for the team to calm down, waited and then rolled it out to the defence.

Neto waved both arms in the air in frustration but then went on and continued about his business. What Sanchez did, although annoying for Neto, is what Maresca wants his team to do. Be patient.

Speaking after the win against Newcastle United last month, Maresca explained: "There are games, especially today's one, that if you do a basketball game, they would destroy us. Newcastle are strong, they are good, they have some good players in transition. The reason I was saying to calm was because this is the kind of game before you attack you need to make 15, 20 or 25 passes.

"If you want to attack with two passes, you are long distance, they recover the ball and they can cause problems. That is the reason I was shouting all game, 'calm, calm, calm, make passes' is because against them if you do up and down game, they destroy us."

Chelsea did get caught in transition a few times in Manchester but that was to be expected given the way United set up. Maresca thought his team controlled the game well on Sunday, with the Blues ending the match with 54% of possession and one more shot than the hosts.

"I think we controlled the game quite well," he said. "We knew against them, we will concede some chances, especially on the counter-attack. We knew that.

"We did the most difficult thing in this stadium against this team which is come back when they score. Probably after 1-1, because we tried to win it, we exposed ourselves and that is why in the last five or 10 minutes, we conceded a bit more."

Caicedo in sensational form - but it's nothing that new

Caicedo was absolutely sensational on Sunday. The 23-year-old midfielder dominated the middle of the park in a genuinely world-class performance - and that was before he scored a fabulous goal.

In the 90-or-so minutes he played at Old Trafford, Caicedo recorded the second-most successful defensive actions, the third-most key passes, the fourth-most passes and fourth-most defensive duels. Rinse and repeat. He has been doing that for weeks now and people from outside the Chelsea circle are finally beginning to give the Ecuadorian the recognition and credit he so thoroughly deserves.

In the Premier League this season, Caicedo has the most tackles and interceptions combined (61), most tackles won, a 61% duel win rate and the joint-most interceptions in a single top-flight match (coming in the win against Newcastle eight days ago. "Since we arrived, Moi is doing fantastic," Maresca said post-match.

Moises Caicedo with Enzo Maresca
Moises Caicedo speaks with Enzo Maresca -Credit:Carl Recine

"I said during the week, the problem probably with Moi and Enzo [Fernandez] - these kind of players - is probably the big money the club paid. Everyone expects them to be the best but they are human and it is normal.

"Moi is improving a lot. We are spending time with him and the rest to improve them."

The best player on the pitch at Old Trafford - and by an absolute mile. We need to have a chat about just how good he is. Is he the best in his position in world football right now? I would like to see someone put a compelling argument otherwise.