Enzo Maresca refused to be drawn into the controversy over who’s the Premier League’s best midfielder: Moises Caicedo or Declan Rice.
In truth, the Chelsea head coach named several players whom he rates as highly because the duo ahead of the large clash against Arsenal.
Stamford Bridge is the venue for Sunday’s top of the table match between the London rivals, where the Blues can close the gap to the Gunners to only three points.
There might be many key battles to observe throughout the game, with some believing the result might be determined by the duel between Caicedo and Rice, arguably the perfect central midfielders within the league.
But when asked if he agreed with that assessment, Maresca replied: ‘I believe the Premier League is stuffed with good players, excellent midfielders.
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‘As you said, Moises, Declan, Rodri from Manchester City, Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, [Bruno] Guimaraes from Newcastle.
‘I believe the Premier League is stuffed with excellent midfielders.
‘[The battle between Caicedo and Rice] is an enormous part however it’s not the just one. I believe it’s 11v11, those that go on from the bench. The massive picture shouldn’t be only one a part of the image.
While he has endured an injury stricken season, 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri remains to be considered certainly one of the best defensive midfielders on this planet, while Guimaraes has consistently delivered since joining the Magpies three years ago.
Anderson is having fun with a breakthrough season at Forest and appears set to start out alongside Rice for England at next summer’s World Cup.
Manchester United are keeping tabs on the 23-year-old who’s valued at over £100million.
Chelsea will go into the London derby stuffed with confidence having thumped Barcelona 3-0 within the Champions League on Tuesday, in certainly one of their most impressive performances under Maresca.
A result against Arsenal would prove beyond doubt that they’re title contenders but Maresca shouldn’t be getting carried away just yet.
Who’s the Premier League’s best midfielder?
‘I believe it’s too early in any case. If we win, if we don’t win, I believe it’s too early [to say we can win the Premier League],’ the Italian added.
‘We’re still, end of November, we’re still five, six months to go. I believe it’s very essential after we’re going to be in February, March, where we’re, and from there we determine and we see if we will achieve something essential.
‘I believe needless to say it’s different in comparison with one 12 months ago. It’s because we spent yet one more 12 months together. We went through moments where we will learn from that moment.
‘Nonetheless, for me it’s very early. We’re still at the top of November, December. So it’s very early and it’s essential to be where we at the moment are in March, April after which we’ll see.’
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