Why do Chelsea look short in midfield?

Chelsea's midfield options have thinned out dramatically, and according to BBC News, the main culprit is Moises Caicedo's injury.

The Ecuadorian broke down just 11 minutes into a substitute appearance against Brighton last week and now faces an unknown spell on the sidelines with an unspecified problem. His absence leaves head coach Xabi Alonso navigating what the report describes as largely uncharted territory in the middle of the park.

With Caicedo sidelined, Chelsea's engine room suddenly looks far less equipped to cope with the demands of a congested schedule. The BBC piece frames this as the primary explanation behind Chelsea's midfield shortage — though it stops short of detailing exactly how long Caicedo might be out or what options Alonso has to fill the gap.

For a squad built with genuine depth in mind, losing a player of Caicedo's importance at this stage represents a real test of Alonso's resources and squad management as the season progresses.