COMMENT: He has it in him, does Jurgen Klopp. And every now and then he lets it go. That nastiness. That ugly streak. Something that Moises Caicedo now knows only too well...
For Chelsea's young midfielder, Sunday at Wembley is an opportunity. The Carabao Cup final a chance to re-establish himself. To strengthen his relationship with the Blues support. And to throw one back at Liverpool's manager...
Let's not mince words. It was nasty from Klopp. Petty. Yeah, Caicedo has been very public about his choice of Chelsea over Liverpool. Of his ties to the Londoners. But he's never run the club down. And certainly at 22 years of age and in the infancy of a senior career, he's never taken aim at any individual connected to the Reds.
But Klopp did. Established. Iconic. A 'boss' in the game. It was Liverpool's manager who ridiculed - indeed mocked - this young lad earlier in the season.
"The summer we had a few strange things happen in the transfer market but here, between us, I can say, 'My God, were we lucky, eh?'," stated the German to great guffaws of laughter at a Main Stand function inside Anfield. "We didn't know that in that moment and it didn't feel like it in that moment, but yeah, I'm really happy that it worked out, but you never know before."
Again, why indulge in something so petty? Particularly when comparing the status today of the two men involved. But clearly Klopp thought - in front of an ever willing audience - it right to take aim at this young pro. That Caicedo had given his word to Chelsea before any approach from Liverpool didn't seem to matter. Loyalty. Integrity. Caicedo displayed it all in keeping his promise to Chelsea as he departed Brighton in August. Why such rare qualities these days were disregarded by Klopp, only he knows.
"I chose Chelsea because I was talking with them first and then it was impossible not to choose them," Caicedo said before Christmas. "They were with me, supporting me...
"They were with me. In the last moment, Liverpool called me but it was late. It was too late, you know?"
Even when the deal was done, Chelsea and Caicedo agreed he'd sit out that first game at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool. The reason? Well, we'll let his agent Manuel Sierra explain: "They had the handicap that the first game of the season was Chelsea v Liverpool. It would have been a bit awkward to present him on the day they play against each other.
"It was like an unwritten agreement to not laugh in each other's faces..."
Caicedo has kept his own counsel since Klopp's mocking. As has - impressively - Sierra. And to be fair, as Liverpool's manager has stated, Caicedo's current form doesn't warrant any leeway for public spats. Though given his history, even if he was pulling up trees, it's unlikely he'd issue a public response.
There's no doubt, Caicedo must do better. Chelseaneed him to do better. But at 22 and with barely 18 months of Premier League football behind him, Caicedo has been dealt a bad hand by Chelsea's higher ups. Those co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, doing their £115m investment no favours with their squad management. There's no N'Golo Kante to guide Caicedo through the early stages of his Chelsea career. No Frank Lampard to keep his mind focused and on the job over the 90 minutes. He's really been left to his own devices. Hence, we see the Ecuadorian sometimes looking a yard off the pace. Often taking the wrong option in the wrong part of the pitch. It's not down to a lack of ability. Simply, Caicedo has no senior 'minder' in that midfield to help him through.
£100m. £200m. £300m. No matter the price-tag, there's no footballer in the world at 22 years of age and with just 18 months Premier League experience, capable of meeting consistently the demands of being a Chelsea player. And that would be even with a Frank Lampard or Claude Makelele to play alongside.
He's had his moments. He's performed well at times. And you can see there's a player there. Maybe not one worth £115m. But certainly Caicedo has shown enough that he can be a mainstay of this Chelsea midfield. It's just a question of consistency.
But a Cup final at Wembley is a one-off. An occasion tailor-made for surprises and shocks. Consistency often doesn't come into it. It's how you feel and how you are on the day.
Sunday offers Caicedo an opportunity. Forget what's gone before. Put aside the doubts and second thoughts. A chance to announce himself on the world stage. To let his boots do the talking... And even, if it all falls for him, to throw one back at the old man in the Liverpool dugout.
