Chelsea veteran Cesar Azpilicueta on club loyalty and top-four chances
As per the quotes on The Athletic (subscription required), Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta talked about showing loyalty to the club and their top-four chances this season.
After being heavily linked with a move to Barcelona last summer, Azpilicueta eventually signed a new two-year contract with Chelsea, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2024.
The 33-year-old Spanish international has been an excellent servant for the Blues over the past decade. During his time here, he has won the Premier League twice and the Champions League once along with other major trophies.
Here’s what Azpilicueta said about the loyalty shown and what the team’s chances of finishing in the top four are (h/t The Athletic):
“No, no. Never! [when asked if he regrets not moving to Barcelona]. I had better options in terms of contract years and salary elsewhere, but that’s not what I wanted to do. I’ve been here for over 10 years. I’ve had a chance to create an amazing relationship with the fans, the club, employees. I could not leave.
“It was a matter of loyalty to the club that gave me everything. I had won all the trophies with them. We had been crowned the best club in the world (by winning the FIFA Club World Cup last February). I was also made captain.
“No one expected us to win the Champions League in 2021. In the Premier League, we have to have a very strong second half of the season to reach the top four, but it’s in our hands. I refuse to give up on that.”
It is good to see a player showing loyalty towards a club that brought him to the world map after signing from Marseille back in August 2012.
Azpilicueta has repaid the favour with consistent performances over these years. He is also a great person to have in the dressing room. There is a leadership quality in him that drives the team on in tougher situations.
Although the 33-year-old may not be a first-choice player in any of the defensive positions he operates in, the importance of him staying cannot be understated.
We just hope that his words regarding our chances of finishing in the top four are true. There is still a long way to go to achieve that with 17 league games to go.
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Moreover, as mentioned by Azpilicueta, no one gave Chelsea a chance to win the Champions League in 2021. The same vibe is there this year as we are close to welcoming the knockout stage of the competition. We can go on a run this time as well.