Caicedo physicality would have meant he shone brighter than Makelele – but not Kante

Chelsea are striding into the next stage of the season on a high after two important feelings wins in a week. Meanwhile Frank Lampard’s Coventry are top of the table. There’s a buzz around both clubs during this international break.

Perhaps that’s why Lampard was in such a good mood to chat about Moises Caicedo and comparisons this week to two players the former Blue knows well – N’Golo Kante and Claude Makelele. Ecuador star Caicedo has been one of the best players in the league this season so far.

Lampard on Caicedo comparisons to Chelsea greats

Frank Lampard in a Coventry tracksuit. (Photo by: Tom Leach/Coventry City FC)

“That’s a big comparison because of those players and what they did. I played with both Kante and Makelele and they were both amazing,” Lampard told talkSPORT when asked if the midfielder was on their level yet.

“Makelele was a different type to N’Golo because N’Golo could really get around everywhere whereas Makelele basically sat in front a lot.

“But I see that because of the style of play. Caicedo can really do the Makelele break-up stuff really well, he closes down space really quickly and he’s showing last season and this that he’s got the Kante bits in his game.

“N’Golo could do that. He could arrive at the edge of the box and score goals.”

Caicedo has a lot to prove – but don’t get nostalgic

Lampard knows everything there is to know about top players and playing in midfield in the Premier League. But we think Caicedo would have looked pretty freakishly good in a game in the early 2000s that Makelele was playing in. His ability to cover space would be like nothing they’d seen.

There are lots of flaws to his game still, but there’s also a pretty phenomenal player there already. The comparisons certainly aren’t too crazy.