Paul Merson responds when asked if Chelsea star Moises Caicedo is better than Barcelona’s Rodri
It was perhaps no surprise that Chelsea ended a winless run of three Premier League games with the 5-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, with Moises Caicedo back in the starting line-up.
The plaudits will go to an unlikely hero in Jordan Henderson, while Joao Pedro got another brace and Morgan Rogers continued his stunning start to life at Stamford Bridge, with his second league goal.
After losses at Arsenal and Brentford, intersected with a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Hull City before the break, it was key that Chelsea returned to winning ways. They did so with flying colours.
A troublesome calf injury had limited Caicedo to a substitute outing against old club Brighton this term. That lasted 14 minutes, with Caicedo forced off again. On Saturday, he started and lasted 65 minutes.
Paul Merson compares Moises Caicedo and Rodri
On Chelsea’s YouTube, Xabi Alonso admitted that he had been desperate to get Caicedo back into the team. The run without a clean sheet in the league is now 22 games, but defensively, Chelsea were better.
Caicedo has long been seen as the solution to Chelsea’s defensive issues. Saturday’s win did not prove that he can be the answer by himself, but Alonso was convinced that Chelsea looked more in control.
Chelsea put FIVE past Bournemouth – who was your Man of the Match?
Braces for Jordan Henderson and Joao Pedro 👀
Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson talked up Caicedo and his combination with Henderson in midfield. He was then asked by Clinton Morrison who he thought was better – the Ecuadorian, or Barcelona’s Rodri.
“I thought they worked well together, Caicedo and Henderson. Henderson has the experience, and Caicedo, for me, is the best holding midfielder in the world of football. They are the insurance policy.
“Just let the others go and play, you don’t have to bomb on. Different kind of holding midfield player [to Rodri], Rodri ticks it over, Caicedo breaks it up,” Merson told Clinton Morrison live on Sky Sports.
The stats: Rodri at Man City in 2025-26, against Caicedo
So, do Merson’s comments hold weight? Rodri is a Ballon d’Or winner, and while at City, many felt he was the best player in the world at some points. Injury has since derailed that, but his Barca form is excellent.
Rodri v Caicedo in the 2025-26 Premier League
| Metric (Per 90) | Rodri (Man City) | Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) |
| Passes Completed | 87.0 | 59.2 |
| Pass Accuracy (%) | 92.4% | 91.7% |
| Long Passes Completed | 6.1 | 2.1 |
| Interceptions | 1.2 | 1.86 |
| Tackles Made | 2.1 | 2.83 |
| Ball Recoveries | 6.8 | 5.9 |
| Shot / Pass Blocks | 0.31 | 0.48 |
| Clearances | 1.1 | 0.90 |
| Ground Duels Won | 3.8 | 5.07 |
Merson is right; Rodri is not the kind of player to cover every blade of grass and make last-ditch tackles. He is in a team to keep things ticking over, to keep giving ammunition to his more attacking teammates.
Caicedo does the dirty work. That is not to say either player doesn’t do what the other is good at, but Caicedo specialises in protecting his back four. In terms of that kind of midfielder, Caicedo is the best.
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