Mauricio Pochettino understands the reason behind Moises Caicedo’s recent struggles.
The Chelsea manager has held a one-on-one meeting with the midfielder ahead of the clash against his former club Brighton.
The Ecuadorian has struggled for form and consistency since his move this summer and played 14 times in all competitions since his arrival.
Caicedo’s frequent trips to South America have limited his time at Cobham as he was called up three times by Ecuador and played in six matches since his summer move.
He was one of the standout performers for Brighton over the past two seasons which tempted Chelsea to make the move.
Pochettino believes the player is still adapting and calls for patience for the 22-year-old midfielder.
“When we signed him we knew what is going to happen,” said Pochettino. “He’s an emotional guy, an emotional player that needs time to recover.
“It didn’t help also the international games, travelling to Ecuador, to South America.
“It’s not an excuse but it’s the reality. Now we need time. Of course I say (the team) always need to perform. That is our mentality. But in some situations like his, we need to give time and not to be unfair in the way that we assess him.”
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