Why Caicedo was absent from training ahead of Conference League semi-final

Chelsea’s player of the season Moises Caicedo missed their training session on Wednesday afternoon – but fans can rest assured that their highly-influential midfielder was not absent through injury.

Instead, Mail Sport has been told Caicedo was given permission by his club to skip that 3pm session in order to attend an event at which he received the National Order of Merit from Ecuador president Daniel Noboa, who has been visiting London this week.

It is also understood that Caicedo made sure to train at a different time rather than having a full day off amid the run-in.

Chelsea are preparing to play Djurgarden in the Conference League semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. They hold a 4-1 lead from the first leg.

Caicedo is expected to be included in the squad for that clash, though it is looking like a formality that the Blues will secure their spot in the final.

Maresca spoke on Wednesday about how important it would be for his young side to win a trophy, even if the Conference League falls short of their high ambitions.

‘Important, because we would be the only club in Europe (to have won every competition they have entered),’ Maresca said. ‘It’s important to start to build a winning mentality with this club.

‘For me, winning a Conference League trophy this season is a statement where you can say “Chelsea is back”, because you win a trophy.

‘If Real Madrid or different clubs didn’t play the Conference League, it’s because the Conference League is not the level they were at. If we play in the Conference League, it’s because that’s where we are.

‘If you play in the Conference League, you cannot win the Champions League or the Europa League. The only trophy you can win is the Conference League.

‘We are going to try our best to reach the final and then to reach the trophy. From there, it’s a good starting point to win games and trophies.’