Enzo Maresca Reveals Moises Caicedo's Injury Concerns After Player Reports Pain

Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca expressed concerning thoughts about Moisés Caicedo following the midfielder's injury during Tuesday's Club World Cup semifinal clash with Fluminense.

The current Player of the Year at the club suffered an uncomfortable ankle twist on his left side in the final moments of their 2-0 triumph. Caicedo was visibly struggling with pain, needing medical attention on the field before limping toward the sideline. Following a quick discussion with Maresca, the Ecuadorian player attempted to continue through the remaining stoppage time but eventually succumbed to the pain.

"He believed he could continue despite my suggestion that we could manage with ten men," Maresca explained from within the MetLife Stadium. "He made the attempt but experienced pain. We're hopeful he'll be ready for Sunday's match."

Maresca's situation is complicated by the fact that Caicedo's natural substitute is also unavailable. The Italian manager confirmed that Dário Essugo will remain out for the tournament's remainder due to fitness concerns, while Roméo Lavia was also absent from the semifinal squad.

Beyond Caicedo's setback, the day proved excellent for Chelsea. João Pedro scored twice on his impressive full debut against his previous team, securing Chelsea's place in the final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.

"We feel tremendous joy and pride about reaching Sunday's final," Maresca expressed enthusiastically. "This marks the inaugural Club World Cup edition. The world's finest clubs are participating. Our presence in the final is truly something to celebrate.

"I understand the challenge with our packed schedule. We're competing for Premier League top four, we've claimed the Conference League, and now we're in a final here—it's absolutely wonderful."

The relatively manageable opposition has undoubtedly aided Chelsea's advancement. The Blues haven't encountered any team from Europe's premier five leagues this summer, overcoming LAFC and ES Tunis to secure second place behind Flamengo in their group.

Among their opponents, only round-of-16 adversaries Benfica rank within Opta's global top 60 clubs that Chelsea have faced.