Chelsea fans turn on Caicedo over reaction to Middlesbrough

Chelsea fans turn on Moises Caicedo after witnessing his reaction leading to Middlesbrough’s opener in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

In the first leg clash of the Tuesday night clash, Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney secured a surprise lead for Michael Carrick’s side at the Riverside Stadium.

Hackney capitalized on a late surge into the box, connecting with Isaiah Jones’ well-placed pass to slot home the opener.

However, attention swiftly turned to Caicedo, the Ecuadorian midfielder for whom Chelsea had made a British-record £115 million investment.

His unorthodox actions during the goal-scoring play drew ire from the Chelsea faithful.

Caicedo appeared to neglect tracking the advancing Hackney, and in a moment described as bizarre, the midfielder seemingly stood with his hands behind his back as he watched Hackney capitalize on the opportunity, leaving the goal-scoring chance unchallenged.

Expressing their discontent on social media, Chelsea fans were quick to criticize Caicedo’s lapse in defensive responsibility during the crucial passage of play.

One fan lamented, “Caicedo watching an unmarked runner in the box,” while another questioned, “What is Caicedo doing?”

The frustration from supporters was compounded by earlier comments made by manager Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the match.

Pochettino’s remarks, suggesting that the team shouldn’t feel obligated to reach the final, were met with criticism from fans who deemed such sentiments unacceptable under the leadership of Roman Abramovich.

Pochettino had remarked,

“The most important thing is we need to enjoy the semi-final, not to feel like it’s compulsory for us to be in the final… You cannot play if you feel pressure and you don’t feel fresh in your mind.”

Reacting to the Argentine’s statements, several fans emphasized their discontent, highlighting that expectations of success were part of the Chelsea ethos, and such comments might not have been tolerated during Abramovich’s tenure at the club.