Caicedo wary of attacking Chile

Ecuador forward Felipe Caicedo expects Chile to play on the counter-attack when the teams meet in a World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Reinaldo Rueda’s team sit third in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying ahead of the crucial encounter in Quito.

They will be without Antonio Valencia for the clash at Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa after the Manchester United attacker was sent off against Uruguay.

Lokomotiv Moscow’s Caicedo, 24, said he expected Chile to sit back and try to hit his team on the break.

“We are going to play at home and we have to prevail but it will be a difficult match,” he said.

“We have to play with patience because all the squads that play against Ecuador close their defences and wait for us to attack.

“The bad thing is that Valencia won’t play this match because he was sent off in the last one. It will be a shame not to have our best player but we have to develop with other players that are available.”

Caicedo, who was signed by Manchester City in 2008 but was unable to hold down a first-team place, has scored in Ecuador’s past two qualifiers.

He said the current Ecuador team was one of the best the country has ever had.

“We have a strong attack – very fast. Our players are young, ambitious and I think in that aspect we have improved a lot comparing to other Ecuador squads,” Caicedo said.

“We also have an extraordinary team in defence.

“Generally, we have improved in all areas. Although Ecuador has had extraordinary national teams in the past, if this actual one is not the best of all, we are close to it.”