It took Moises Caicedo only one match to back up the words of his new manager at Chelsea, Liam Rosenior, who called the Ecuadorian the "best midfielder in the world" today.

The Ecuadorian was the standout figure in the Blues' 5-1 rout of Charlton in the FA Cup third round, in a match that marked his return to the starting lineup after serving a suspension for accumulated yellow cards.

Wearing the captain's armband, the Ecuadorian international took control of the midfield alongside Brazilian Andrey Santos and delivered an outstanding performance that earned him recognition as the Player of the Match.

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Caicedo was the player with the most passes in the match: he completed 128 of 138, achieving 93% accuracy. Furthermore, he registered three clearances and recovered four key balls.

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His influence was not limited to defensive duties. Caicedo was also a protagonist in Chelsea's attacking phase, actively participating in buildup play and registering twelve dangerous passes in the opponent's half.

Playing alongside Santos allowed Caicedo to get closer to the attackers Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Facundo Buonanotte, and Marc Guiu with greater frequency.

The goals in the Blues' victory were scored by Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, and Enzo Fernandez, while the consolation goal for the opponent was converted by Miles Leaburn.

Before the match, Rosenior praised several players from the London club, such as Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, but made his preference clear.

"Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez – who is a world champion – Cole Palmer, or Reece James are world-class players and still very young. That is this club's ultimate ambition: to create that again, a competitive team. But, for me, Caicedo is the best in the world," said Rosenior.

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