It is a testament to Moises Caicedo’s durability and consistency that his spell on the sidelines at the start of this season was his first absence of any note during his Chelsea career, which began more than three years ago now.

That Caicedo never shirks a challenge in the heart of the midfield battle only makes that fact more impressive. He has won possession on more occasions than anyone else in the Premier League since the start of 2023/24, when he arrived at the Bridge, and only two players have made more tackles and interceptions in that time.

Now, Caicedo’s back. Against Bournemouth on Saturday, it was like the Ecuadorian had never been away. Within 35 seconds of kick-off, he skilfully collected a bouncing ball, turned away from his man and drew a foul.

Then came a forward pass to Cole Palmer, who darted into Bournemouth territory before teeing up Jordan Henderson to open the scoring.

The replays of that fabulous strike had barely stopped showing when Caicedo won a tackle on the edge of the Bournemouth box, robbing Ryan Christie. The loose ball was worked to Morgan Rogers, who doubled our lead.

Caicedo was withdrawn on 72 minutes – shortly after we had gone 5-1 up – to a standing ovation. No player had won more tackles or had a higher pass completion rate.

His performance encapsulated the overwhelmingly positive impact he has had since joining Chelsea. And as he sits down with us at Cobham to reflect on his time at the Bridge so far, Caicedo tells us it has been a period of continuous growth, lessons learned and obstacles hurdled. His nature dictates it cannot stop now.

‘It has been a great journey for me, more than three special years at one of the best clubs in the world,’ Caicedo says.

‘In my first season, I passed some tough moments, I would say. They helped me to grow, to keep developing, and to be in the position I am in right now. I can look back and say it’s a pleasure for what I passed.

‘Now I’m just enjoying trying to do everything for this club, because they gave me everything. They helped me in every way, and I’ve grown up a lot because of them. I have more experience now, I’m more mature, and I just want to keep learning and keep doing what I’m doing.

‘I feel very grateful to Chelsea, and I want to keep showing the fans and everybody at the club what I am capable of.’

On the pitch, Caicedo is always in the thick of the action. No games pass him by, that’s for sure. Away from the grass, though, the 24-year-old is an unassuming character, softly spoken and kind.

He prefers to set a good example with the way he plays, although he knows, as a member of the leadership group at Cobham, he has greater responsibility to make himself heard.

‘I think every coach tells me that I can improve talking on the pitch, you know? Because they know that I'm a leader, but it will be better for me if I start talking more with the players. I try my best, but it’s not in my nature. So when I'm not able to talk, I just try to show even more.

‘You learn from the previous ones, like Thiago Silva,’ Moises adds.

‘He was an example for us. He tried to help us in every moment. How he was a leader here was amazing for all of us. Now being one of the captains is a pleasure for me, and a special feeling for my family. Even if I’m not a player who likes to talk a lot, I like to show through what I do, so others can see my example.’

Xabi Alonso has said he has a ‘soft spot’ for our midfielders, because that was his position, and our manager has already described Caicedo as ‘one of the best holding players in the world’. Comments like those serve as motivation, the Ecuadorian explains. ‘With Xabi I am going to keep developing, for sure, and show him why he trusts me.’

There has been plenty of change during Caicedo’s time at the Bridge, but the support he has received from Chelsea fans, at home and abroad, has been a constant.

He has observed the Blues’ popularity expand in his native Ecuador, and that relationship was cemented recently when the club completed the renovation of a community football pitch in Guayaquil, a port city in the west of the country.

‘It was a proud moment for me because Chelsea are doing things in Ecuador and I think I opened that door for them to go,’ says Caicedo.

‘The fans in Ecuador and at Stamford Bridge support me so much. Every game I see people from Ecuador in the stadium. And it’s an amazing feeling when the Chelsea fans sing my song.

‘They have been incredible with me. I just want to show them my best every single week because they like going to the game at the weekend and being happy and enjoying it. This is why we work in training every day, because they are on our minds and they deserve good things.’

So, too, does Caicedo. His achievements at Chelsea so far have included collective and individual accolades, but world-class levels of performance merit more, and he says he is feeling confident of winning silverware under Alonso’s guidance.

Whatever happens, it has been a wonderful journey up until this point, a journey Caicedo reflects on with pride and renewed purpose.

‘I can say Chelsea is my home, because they treat me like I've been here for a long, long time,’ he smiles. ‘It’s a special place for me.

'I want to always give them happiness because I know they did everything for me. Everybody here, from the kitman to the coach, is a kind person to me.

‘The only thing I can say is that I want to always be the same, but even more so on the pitch. I want to always show my team-mates, the coaches, the fans, just what I'm capable of.’

That is a mantra we have no doubt Caicedo will continue to live by.