Jamie Carragher compelled into one other Chelsea apology after Sky Sports selection
Jamie Carragher apologised to Chelsea supporters after picking his Premier League Team of the Season, so far, during this week’s Monday Night Football show
Jamie Carragher has apologised to Chelsea’s supporters after snubbing their midfield colossus Moises Caicedo.
The ex-Liverpool defender, as is tradition, picked his Premier League XI for the season so far on the final Monday Night Football of the calendar year. But the footballer-turned-Sky Sports pundit overlooked Caicedo in his side – in favour of Arsenal star Declan Rice, Granit Xhaka of Sunderland and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Explaining the thinking behind his decision, Carragher – not a popular man at Stamford Bridge – said: “Formation wise, we’ve gone with a standard 4-2-3-1. So I’ve gone with [Granit] Xhaka and [Declan] Rice in there. The other one to put in was [Moises] Caicedo and it was a really tough one. I didn’t want to put all three, because they’re almost, not defensive, but I want to put an attacking midfield player in there.
“I’ve obviously got Bruno Fernandes. I’ve said I think Rice just has the edge on Caicedo. But I just felt the impact of Xhaka this season is the biggest impact of a signing or effect on a team.
“It feels like he’s just so important to Sunderland. So I just felt he had to be in the team. So I apologise to Chelsea‘s fans, as I seem to do a lot! But no, I couldn’t find room for Caicedo because of those reasons.
“And also, I had to put Bruno Fernandes in. They’re going to miss him, he doesn’t miss too many games – and now he’s injured.
“But, I mean, you look at his numbers, I think he’s still created the most chances, maybe got the most assists in the Premier League, or certainly very close. He’s the outstanding chance creator in the Premier League, even in playing from a deeper position.”
Arsenal players dominated Carragher’s Team of the Season so far, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice all getting the nod. Robin Roefs, Daniel Munoz, Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo, Morgan Rogers and Erling Haaland made up the line-up.
Carragher also revealed why he opted against Reece James at right-back, saying: “I would say that the right back position is probably the most difficult.
“I was really close to putting Timber in, who I’m a huge fan of. Also, Reece James, he’s been outstanding, but he’s played a lot of his football in central midfield. But every time I watch this guy, fantastic.
“Part of a really strong defensive unit until the last couple of games that he wasn’t part of, I should add. But I think he’s got three goals, a couple of assists as well, so I think he’s fantastic – Daniel Munoz.”
And when asked to name his best three players so far this season, Carragher replied: “Haaland and Rice would be certainly the two that would stand out right away.
“And I think Rogers is sort of just on their coattails. If you’re talking about a Player of the Year – or something like that – or the Player of the Year so far at the halfway point, it’d be a toss up between Rice or Haaland.”
In 2022, Carragher apologised to Chelsea supporters after criticising the club’s approach to bringing in youth talent. After a backlash to his comments on Monday Night Football, he wrote on X: “Apologies, I got a little emotional.”
