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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Oli Gent

Paul Scholes: Premier League legend makes Chelsea star claim and reveals surprise preference

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has claimed that Moises Caicedo is still not an “all-round” midfielder.

Caicedo scored a screamer from distance in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Liverpool last weekend, and has made a bright start to the campaign, where the Blues sit seventh.

The Ecuadorian moved to west London for a Premier League record fee back in 2023, in the region of £115million.

However, his performances for Chelsea have not fully enamoured Scholes, who also revealed which top-flight stars he prefers to Caicedo.

Asked on The Overlap who he thought the Premier League’s best midfielder was, the former United man said: “That is tough.

“I still don’t class Moises Caicedo as an all-round midfield player. I know he scored a great goal and was brilliant the other day.

“I got some stick last year having a go at him and I almost thought about taking that back because he was brilliant in the Club World Cup.

“I just prefer the controlling type of midfield players who play with a bit more style and can score goals a bit more often than Caicedo. It was a brilliant goal but you would not be surprised if he did not do that again for another 18 months.

“He is one of the best at what he does which is breaking up the play, he is brilliant at that. But I prefer the other types.

“I love Sandro Tonali as well. He’s been brilliant. Very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point.

“Alexis Mac Allister was absolutely brilliant last season, he controlled a lot of games and I think Liverpool are missing that at the moment.”

Scholes also spoke about his compatriot Declan Rice, who he feels has “everything”.

“I really like Rice, don’t get me wrong, I think he’s got everything,” he said of the Arsenal midfielder.

“Sometimes he takes a few too many touches of the ball and tries to look a bit more stylish than necessary.”

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