Gallardo Omits Hincapié and Caicedo From First Ecuador Squad
The new coach said both players are not fully fit and Arsenal and Chelsea will retain them so club staff can oversee their recovery during the international break.
Overview
- Marcelo Gallardo published his first Ecuador squad on Sunday and left out Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié and Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo for fitness reasons.
- Hincapié has started only once this season for Arsenal and missed subsequent matches after a training injury while Caicedo has logged about 14 minutes of competitive football since the World Cup.
- Hincapié remains suspended for competitive international matches because of a red card at the 2026 World Cup but would have been eligible for the planned friendlies.
- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso will keep both players during the September–October break so their medical and training teams can manage rehabilitation and aim for availability after the window.
- Gallardo, who signed a four-year deal after Ecuador’s World Cup exit, will use the friendlies in South Korea and Japan to begin shaping his squad and assess other players for his long-term plans.