César Azpilicueta

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

I'm thinking right now, Azpi's original position is LB. It has been his position since last 2 years, and he is damn good in this, no point risking him back to RB.

[lucio 5,418]

I'm thinking right now, Azpi's original position is LB. It has been his position since last 2 years, and he is damn good in this, no point risking him back to RB.

But he ruins so much build-up, especially as oscar and cahill play alot too. A

[Oscar 441]

Do people remember azpi playing rb?

He was never really anything special going forward,so, I'm a bit confused why people think it's night or day with his ability going forward or maybe everyone just wants ivan dropped in place of luis.

[lucio 5,418]

Do people remember azpi playing rb?

He was never really anything special going forward,so, I'm a bit confused why people think it's night or day with his ability going forward or maybe everyone just wants ivan dropped in place of luis.

he would be able to move the ball quickly. Instead of checking back and playing a square balll.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Do people remember azpi playing rb?

He was never really anything special going forward,so, I'm a bit confused why people think it's night or day with his ability going forward or maybe everyone just wants ivan dropped in place of luis.

He was never special, but he was still fine in possession. At LB, even under minimum pressure he just hoofs the ball forward. He's definitely not as comfortable in possession on the left. On the right, he was always able to find a pass and keep possession, even if it was a simple pass.

[iseah100 5,612]

Do people remember azpi playing rb?

He was never really anything special going forward,so, I'm a bit confused why people think it's night or day with his ability going forward or maybe everyone just wants ivan dropped in place of luis.

Has more to do with Luis being something special going forward and Azpi being a better defender than Ivanovic.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Has more to do with Luis being something special going forward and Azpi being a better defender than Ivanovic.

Luis is nothing special offensively, Ashley Cole was something special in his prime. And Luis is nowhere near that level. Dave is also a better defender than him.

Ivanovic is playing with more freedom because our right wing is horrible going forward, so we try to overload on the right and let Hazard do his magic on the left. Not that difficult to understand, we've seen Branislav being brilliant deffensively when he is instructed to stay back.

[Leif 6,006]

Luis is nothing special offensively

So far. Patience

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

Luis is nothing special offensively

Mourinho thought otherwise when he put Azpilicueta, his most trusted lieutanant, to play as a right winger to nullify Filipe in CL semifinal at Stamford Bridge last ssn.

[The Chels 2,502]

we've seen Branislav being brilliant deffensively when he is instructed to stay back.

Pure myth. Ivanovic's biggest weakness defensively is his inability to maintain concentration, so whether he sits back or goes forward he is always a liability.

[Jase 43,479]

Azpi is better at RB than people give him credit for. Still remember the time Benitez had us creating triangles in passing and working the ball down the right side going forward.

[iseah100 5,612]

Luis is nothing special offensively, Ashley Cole was something special in his prime. And Luis is nowhere near that level. Dave is also a better defender than him.

Ivanovic is playing with more freedom because our right wing is horrible going forward, so we try to overload on the right and let Hazard do his magic on the left. Not that difficult to understand, we've seen Branislav being brilliant deffensively when he is instructed to stay back.

By himself he isn't, but link him up with Hazard and all of a sudden we have a world class attack pairing on the left. Also, Filipe is no slouch defensively.

Ivanovic is an absolute liability defensively.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Pure myth. Ivanovic's biggest weakness defensively is his inability to maintain concentration, so whether he sits back or goes forward he is always a liability.

I disagree and so do all the Chelsea managers since he came here.

[The Chels 2,502]

I disagree and so do all the Chelsea managers since he came here.

How many of them made an incredibly complacent Ivanovic the untouchable RB at the expense of two better FBs, one of whom plays out of position (and has subsequently been dropped from his NT) and other who rarely features?

Ivanovic does have his good points: he is physically very strong, has good stamina, provides an outball for Courtois, is a threat from set-pieces, and he isn't targeted aerially at the back post by bigger strikers (à la Ibra v Azpi, Raul Garcia v Azpi). But is that really worth more than having two mobile FBs, both of whom are excellent pressers, are less prone to individual mistakes and lapses in concentration, have greater football intelligence, and can offer natural width, combination play and overlaps on both flanks? Jose obviously thinks so but he hasn't even bothered experimenting, even in the meaningless pre-season games when Ivanovic was pretty much always the starting RB. And just because Jose plays him there doesn't necessarily make it the 'right' option. Other top managers like Simeone and Guardiola prefer technique over physique when it comes to the FB position.

This whole thing wouldn't even be up for discussion if Mourinho actually rotated the 3 FBs depending on opposition and form but he has been incredibly stubborn and fixated with Ivanovic at RB. There's no doubt that upon analysing the goals we've conceded this season he'll have noticed Ivanovic is responsible for many, but in his own words he "doesn't blame defenders for defensive mistakes" so that's that then.

[Jase 43,479]

Ivanovic was actually a solid defender at RB up until 1-2 years ago, where his defending qualities started to go downhill.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

He's just so bad on the ball it hurts. It's hard to fault him when his own manager is the one sabotaging him though. Still doesn't make it any easier to watch his displays especially when the likes of Lahm, Alaba, Marcelo, Rodriguez, Luis etc exist

[Shakez 755]

Ivanovic bromances with the Brazilians, Dave bromances with the Belgians

https://instagram.com/p/1h16uaEm1i/?taken-by=hazardeden_10

[communicate 2,703]

He's just so bad on the ball it hurts. It's hard to fault him when his own manager is the one sabotaging him though. Still doesn't make it any easier to watch his displays especially when the likes of Lahm, Alaba, Marcelo, Rodriguez, Luis etc exist

Completely agree, Mourinho kinda kill his game by putting him on the left. The fact that he was not selected in Spain squad kinda prove it.