Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo appears to be winning his fitness battle to face Paris St Germain in Sunday’s Club World Cup final.
The Ecuador international, who suffered an ankle injury in the closing stages of Tuesday’s semi-final defeat of Fluminense, trained with the rest of the squad in New York on Thursday.
The news is a boost for manager Enzo Maresca with another midfielder, Romeo Lavia, looking unlikely to be available.
Lavia has missed the last two games with a muscular problem and was not involved in the part of Thursday’s training session at New York Red Bulls’ Sports Illustrated Stadium that was open to media.
Caicedo’s presence could be crucial as Chelsea seek to neutralise the threat of European champions PSG’s potent attack at the MetLife Stadium.
The 23-year-old has impressed throughout a season now into its 12th month and is considered among the best in the world in his position.
Caicedo himself is modest about such plaudits, but has a determination to aim for the top.
“I don’t think that,” he said. “I am working on that. I want to become one of the best midfielders in the world but I am too far (away from that) right now.
“I am working hard every day and want to show it on the pitch. I am looking forward to the game.”
The match will be Chelsea’s 64th and last of a campaign that began last August.
Come and support us in New York in Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final! 👊🔵
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 9, 2025
They will fly home next Monday and finally begin their summer holidays.
Maresca has promised the squad three weeks off before returning to training ahead of next season. That will give them a fortnight to prepare for their Premier League opener with Crystal Palace on August 17.
Caicedo insists he is not looking that far ahead yet.
“To be honest, I am focused on here,” he said. “We want to win this tournament and we will see after.”
Caicedo may not consider himself the world’s best midfielder, but there is one area where he is convinced he reigns supreme – on the table tennis table in the team hotel.
He said: “Yes, I am the best at that – the best! It’s good, fun and we have been having a good time and a lot of laughs. The worst? I won’t say that!”
Defender Tosin Adarabioyo, one of the senior members in the squad at the age of 27, has also been enjoying time at the team’s base camp.
He said: “Our minds have been set on getting to the final and the gaffer’s been great, giving us some downtime wherever we’ve been.
“So we’ve been able to have the right time to forget about football a little bit and just focus on enjoying our times together and that’s what we’ve done.”
Striker Liam Delap and defender Levi Colwill are both back in contention to face PSG after suspension.
