“He’s playing like” – Enzo Maresca explains key difference between Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice

Enzo Maresca has explained the key difference between Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice ahead of Chelsea’s game against Arsenal.

The duo are set to face off on Sunday in a top of the table clash, with the Blues currently six points behind the Gunners.

Rice and Caicedo have both played key roles for their sides this season, and it’s sure to be a fascinating battle in the midfield.

Enzo Maresca on working with Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice

Rice has praised Caicedo in the build-up to the game, and the pair are arguably the two best midfielders in the league currently.

There’s been a lot of debate about who’s better, with Chelsea legend Claude Makelele stating he prefers Caicedo.

Caicedo will face off against Rice on Sunday. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Maresca is in a unique position of having worked with both players, having been an assistant at West Ham between 2018-2019, and he explained what it was like working with Rice.

“It was a little bit different time when I was at West Ham,” he said as quoted by The Standard.

“He [Rice] was younger, I spent many extra sessions with Declan, one vs one, and you could see that he was already very good.

“He was with second-team players as a central defender. Manuel Pellegrini decided to play him in the first team as a midfielder but [he] was different age compared to Moises.

“But you could see that he was already very, very good.”

Chelsea boss explains key difference between the midfielders

Whilst there’s been a lot of comparisons made between the duo, Maresca has actually explained a key difference between the two players.

“He’s not playing as a holding midfielder,” he added.

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“He’s playing forward, he’s playing like Enzo Fernandez. It’s a different position [from Caicedo’s].

“It’s evolution for him and it’s Mikel [Arteta]’s work. He is a fantastic player and he’s a complete player. He can defend, he can attack, he can do anything.”