Caicedo returns from injury as Chelsea thrash Bournemouth 5-1

A month on the sidelines can feel like an eternity for a midfielder who is, essentially, the engine of his team. That's exactly what Moises Caicedo went through at Chelsea, which is why his return against Bournemouth didn't go unnoticed by anyone at Stamford Bridge.

The Ecuadorian returned to action after recovering from a muscle injury that kept him out for more than four weeks, and he couldn't have picked a better way to do it: a 5-1 rout of Bournemouth in which his presence in midfield was felt from the first minute.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso made no secret of how pleased he was to have one of his key players back. The Spanish coach didn't mince words when discussing what having Caicedo back means for his side:

I couldn't wait to have him back, honestly. With Moi on the pitch everything looks like it's in its place, because he's very important, he helps everything around him, so it's very good newsXabi Alonso

Caicedo's impact goes well beyond the numbers. Alonso stressed that the Ecuadorian brings something to the team that's hard to replace in Chelsea's starting eleven:

A player like Caicedo gives you balance, intensity and control in midfield. His ability to win duels, recover possession and protect the defense makes a huge difference in the way we playXabi Alonso

The absence that was felt against Arsenal

If there was one match where the Ecuadorian midfielder's absence was truly felt, it was Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal. Without Caicedo available, the London side couldn't impose its usual rhythm in midfield, something Alonso acknowledged without hesitation.

"If he'd been fit for that game, I think we would have had more chances of winning it," the coach admitted, making clear that the player's absence was decisive in the final result.

Alonso went into even more detail about why missing Caicedo made things so difficult against a side of Arsenal's caliber: "Against a team like Arsenal every detail counts. You need to compete in midfield, win second balls and dictate the tempo of the match. Caicedo has the qualities for that, and his absence was a factor we had to deal with."

With the Ecuadorian back and showing positive signs after the rout of Bournemouth, Chelsea have recovered a player their manager considers fundamental to competing at the highest level. The question now is whether the balance Caicedo provides will be enough for the London club to get back on track this season.