Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo has shared a funny story about Palmeiras’ remarkable 4-0 win over LDU in the Copa Libertadores semi-final. A result that ended up costing him a dinner with teammate Andrey Santos.
In an interview with ESPN Brazil, the Ecuadorian explained that he was so confident in LDU’s qualification that he placed a friendly bet with Andrey, who backed Palmeiras to turn things around.
Caicedo, a product of Independiente del Valle, said he knows well the “spirit” of Ecuadorian teams and believed the 3-0 first-leg lead would be enough for his countrymen.
A shocking wake-up in London
The Chelsea midfielder went to bed convinced he would wake up to good news. Instead, he learned that Abel Ferreira’s side had produced a sensational comeback at Allianz Parque to reach the final.
“I bet a dinner with Andrey Santos! I said it was impossible for LDU to lose in Brazil against Palmeiras,” Caicedo told the outlet.
The Chelsea star admitted that he hadn’t stayed up for the late kick-off. “When I woke up and saw 4-0… I couldn’t believe it!” he said.
Chelsea player has respect for Palmeiras’ display
Despite the defeat for his country’s team, Caicedo praised the competitiveness of Ecuadorian football while acknowledging Palmeiras’ strength. “It surprised me, but it was something good for us… an Ecuadorian club reaching the semi-finals. Still, now I have to pay for that dinner,” he joked.
For Andrey Santos, it was a small but sweet reminder of his roots in Brazilian football.
