TIME UP FOR AZPILICUETA?

IS TIME UP FOR AZPILICUETA?

For the last 7 seasons Cesar Azpilicueta has probably been Chelsea's most consistent, most reliable and most flexible defender at the club. But with a poor start to the 2019/20 season and youth possibly catching up behind him - but is his Chelsea career coming to an end?  

Career at Chelsea

Azpilicueta joined the then Champions of Europe for a fee of £6.5 million from Marseille and won the Europa League in his opening season being a key player in the competition and starting right back in the final. 

He then went on to overtake the recent retiring Chelsea legend Ashley Cole in the pecking order at left back which left lots of Chelsea fans not too pleased with Cole then subsequently losing his England place too. Mourinho in the past had been known to take important club players out of the starting XI before they demised previously doing the same at Real Madrid with goalkeeper Iker Casillas. But despite this, Azpilicueta soon showed his worth and kept Cole out.

Mourinho kept Azpilicueta at left back the following season and triumphed there fantastically winning the 2014-15 Premier League title and also winning The League Cup with a partnership of John Terry, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanović. 

In the 2016/17 Azpilicueta's position change once again playing as a centre back but this time along side David Luiz and Gary Cahill in a back 3 under new coach Antonio Conte which led to even more success by winning the title for the second time in his career and then winning the FA Cup the following year too. 

Time up for Azpilicueta?

The season so far has been difficult for the Chelsea legend and has been seen to struggle in the opening three games. 

At Man United he was at fault for the second goal of the 4-0 loss letting Martial get the better side of him from a cross for an easy tap in. Only a minute later, an ball over the top from Paul Pogba to Marcus Rashford showed Azpilicueta sleeping and couldn't catch up once Rashford was through. Azpi was even arguably at fault for United's fourth goal by not being able to keep up with Paul Pogba either. 

On Wednesday night against Liverpool in the Super Cup Final, he was again at fault for Liverpool's second in the 3rd minute of extra time by not being able to keep up with Sadio Mane who curved the ball into the roof of the net. 

Now on Sunday's match he allowed Leicester midfielder N'didi to have a running head start up against him for their equaliser from a corner and left Azpilicueta kneeling down below. That's three goals he was mainly at fault for in 3 games. In the game against United he lost possession of the ball 22 times, against Liverpool he lost the ball 23 times and last Sunday he lost the ball 18 times.

Arguably it's unfair to look at this stat as he may of lost the ball through crosses to attackers who too haven't been the most lethal but it still doesn't help his case.

Cole, Ivanovic...Now Azpilciueta?

When Azpilicueta took over from Ashley Cole in 2013, Cole was clearly at the end of his glory days as the best left back in the world. He was 33 years old and didn't have the pace compared to the young Spanish international breathing behind him. 

In 2015, Chelsea had one of the most dreadful seasons in the Roman Era finishing 10th due to players not performing and maybe Mourinho third season syndrome too. One of the most poor players in the squad was Branislav Ivanovic. It was like a light switch for Ivanovic - From being in the PFA Team of the Season to suddenly being one of the worst full backs in the Premier League which eventually led to him leaving the following season.

I just wonder if it'll be the same for Azpilicueta. Last season in our Europa League conquest he would of been one of the first names onto the team sheet. This season he seems to of lost his 1 v 1 defending ability, he doesn't look quick enough to make the attack down the wing and also seems to be losing possession of the ball frequently.


Has The Full Back Position Moved On?

For the last two season's Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander Arnold have shown that full back's aren't just for defending but also helping create and assist strikers too being a big part to Liverpool winning their 6th Champions League trophy.

I feel when watching Azpilicueta that he is not quick enough to make the runs down the right hand side or even have the stamina to come back to defend. You saw on Sunday, Christensen was constantly covering that right hand side and nearly conceded numerous occasions because of his poor positioning and lack of energy.

It's hard to replace him at the moment with no reliable right back to take his place. There are rumours of Zappacosta to leave to A.S Roma for a reported £23 million so I can't imagine he would work due to his head being elsewhere but there is one player that every Chelsea fan is urging to see...Reece James.

Reece James the Perfect Replacement?

Reece James was by far one of the bright lights in Wigan Athletic's season last year playing every game but one for the club. He provided 3 goals and 3 assists plus scooping 3 awards at the club becoming their "Player of The Year", "Player's Player of The Year" and also being awarded "Goal of The Season" against Bristol City. Lampard was talking highly of James after Chelsea's 4-0 defeat and said "Reece James is also coming back, and he's going to be a big player for us I think,".

Can James be the next best replacement and become Chelsea's future? Only time will tell but I can tell you that at this moment in time - Azpilicueta is not up to standards of his previous self. 

Thanks for reading, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

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