César Azpilicueta

[termninja 5,290]

I know Mourinho is great and all but we're suddenly crediting him for creating a great team spirit? Really?!

Well actually I do. Every fucking time he was speaking to the media he promoted that idea, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. Didier's transfer was also an important part to it. He managed to keep a happy dressing room even after Lampard left, Mata was benched, Torress was benched...almost every time we looked as a team and not as a team of mercenary footballers. Even when we were playing badly or struggling to get the result, team never stopped going for it.

Obviously it's not all Jose, but I can't say he isn't the mastermind behind it all.

[Jase 43,479]

Well actually I do. Every fucking time he was speaking to the media he promoted that idea, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. Didier's transfer was also an important part to it. He managed to keep a happy dressing room even after Lampard left, Mata was benched, Torress was benched...almost every time we looked as a team and not as a team of mercenary footballers. Even when we were playing badly or struggling to get the result, team never stopped going for it.

Obviously it's not all Jose, but I can't say he isn't the mastermind behind it all.

Well if you put it that way...then, okay.

[termninja 5,290]

Well if you put it that way...then, okay.

Oh come on homie, we are talking about a coach who sticks it up opposition's or ref's arse whenever he feels his team was damaged by a bad decision, dangerous tackle or similar. The amount of fines he payed so far is quite a number That alone inspires unity and good squad harmony. Players can talk all they want, but all of them want to win and that's what Jose lives for. He will kick their asses and they will either win or die trying to do it.

And this?

I never had a bigger buzz before a coming season then this one, and I'm actually rather down to earth when it comes to these things. At the start of previous 2 seasons I've said I would be satisfied with a season without a single trophy if we manage to improve on our football and replace our aging stars. For this season I will not be satisfied at all unless we don't win either PL or CL. Anything less then that is a complete failure.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Playing Ivanovic will defy all logic. No way he starts ahead of Azpilicueta.

Ivanovic will start at RB against the "big teams" for that extra defensive resilience and assuredness, I reckon. Only time will tell, but José has a soft spot for Branna, as apparent from the fact he wasn't dropped at all last season despite starting it horrifically inconsistently. Fair enough he improved from February onwards, but it was hardly sterling Ivanovic.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

He'd be far and away the best RB in the World if he was more comfortable on the ball. Not saying he needs to play like Lahm or bomb down the flanks like Ashley Cole in his prime but a little more composure on the ball to help retain possession would be helpful.

[HarryCFC 23]

I've written an article on the current full-back dilemma at our club. Check it and my other articles out. Thanks in advance!

http://blogchelseafc.cf

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Then again Hazard did nothing to help him defend when Leicester were attacking. If there is one thing that will make us title winners is if team as whole will work together, attack together, defend togeher. That includes Hazard and everyone else.

And Azpi is RB, he is more composed on that side than on left. On left he doesnt even try to go forward.

[TheIceMan 596]

Remember when we bought him for 7 mil.!!!

[zolayes 14,489]

Then again Hazard did nothing to help him defend when Leicester were attacking. If there is one thing that will make us title winners is if team as whole will work together, attack together, defend togeher. That includes Hazard and everyone else.

And Azpi is RB, he is more composed on that side than on left. On left he doesnt even try to go forward.

even in the first half when a lot were poor I thought EVERYBODY tried to recover and get back..

it was about 20 minutes before we managed to get the ball to Hazard

[Henrique 9,133]

Our left side is an avenue. I predict we will see Luis starting the next games.

[Myself 793]

watching him, lukaku and terry battle it out was amazing

[Jase 43,479]

Our left side is an avenue. I predict we will see Luis starting the next games.

It's only an avenue when he's like the only fella defending on that side. Hazard only participates whenever he feels like it.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

It's only an avenue when he's like the only fella defending on that side. Hazard only participates whenever he feels like it.

That's such bullshit. Apart from the first goal, Hazard did his defensive work all game long and helped out whenever Azpi needed it.

Azpi offers nothing going forward and at times defends way to narrow.

I like Azpi but as a right back not a left back.

[Jase 43,479]

That's such bullshit. Apart from the first goal, Hazard did his defensive work all game long and helped out whenever Azpi needed it.

Azpi offers nothing going forward and at times defends way to narrow.

I like Azpi but as a right back not a left back.

Bullshit? I wasn't talking about the game against Everton but in general. We all know that defensively, Hazard can still be a suspect. I don't deny that he has improved but he definitely needs to be more consistent in doing the defensive work. People are denial if they think otherwise.

But if you want to talk about the game today, he went AWOL at times especially during the first half. And even if he was there, he wasn't doing it diligently. Second half was better but I'm sure it's mainly because Mourinho had a word with it about his defensive duties.

[iseah100 5,612]

Bullshit? I wasn't talking about the game against Everton but in general. We all know that defensively, Hazard can still be a suspect. I don't deny that he has improved but he definitely needs to be more consistent in doing the defensive work. People are denial if they think otherwise.

But if you want to talk about the game today, he went AWOL at times especially during the first half. And even if he was there, he wasn't doing it diligently. Second half was better but I'm sure it's mainly because Mourinho had a word with it about his defensive duties.

He's an attacking player, not a defender! Obviously he won't be top notch defensively. Azpi doesn't do much going forward but Hazard has to do it on both ends?

[Jase 43,479]

He's an attacking player, not a defender! Obviously he won't be top notch defensively. Azpi doesn't do much going forward but Hazard has to do it on both ends?

This notion of not having to defend just because you're an attacking player is absolute nonsense. Nobody asks that attacking player to become a 'full-time' defender but doing their fair share of defensive work consistently (i.e. Robben, Ribery under Heynckes in Bayern's treble winning season). Unless Hazard starts to produce the results offensively on a regular basis (which he certainly can) like say Ronaldo, then don't expect the shackles to be taken off completely from him under Mourinho.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

Bullshit? I wasn't talking about the game against Everton but in general. We all know that defensively, Hazard can still be a suspect. I don't deny that he has improved but he definitely needs to be more consistent in doing the defensive work. People are denial if they think otherwise.

But if you want to talk about the game today, he went AWOL at times especially during the first half. And even if he was there, he wasn't doing it diligently. Second half was better but I'm sure it's mainly because Mourinho had a word with it about his defensive duties.

Talking in general yes Hazard isn't 100 % full proof when it comes to defending. It just doesn't come naturally to him. It has improved and will continue to improve but it's never going to be perfect.

He's always going to make mistakes from time to time. At the end of the day he's still an attacker first, defender second.

About the game today. Sorry but i really have no idea what you're talking about. Hazard did his defensive work, apart from the first goal. He might not always have been succesfull in stopping the cross or intercepting the ball but he was tracking back he was there helping out.

This notion of not having to defend just because you're an attacking player is absolute nonsense. Nobody asks that attacking player to become a 'full-time' defender but doing their fair share of defensive work consistently

Why is it that Azpi isn't put under the same scrutiny as Hazard ? Why does Hazard have to help Azpi on defense but Azpi doesn't have to help Hazard in attack ?

Also i'd like to hear your opinion on what i said about Azpi in my first post. "He offers nothing going forward and at times defends to narrow" Do you agree with that or not ?

[Henrique 9,133]

It's only an avenue when he's like the only fella defending on that side. Hazard only participates whenever he feels like it.

If he needs more support coming from the wings, it means he is not good enough doing that role.

[Jase 43,479]

Why is it that Azpi isn't put under the same scrutiny as Hazard ? Why does Hazard have to help Azpi on defense but Azpi doesn't have to help Hazard in attack ?

Also i'd like to hear your opinion on what i said about Azpi in my first post. "He offers nothing going forward and at times defends to narrow" Do you agree with that or not ?

I don't disagree with that but him not going forward is almost clearly an instruction given by Mourinho. If he is given the license to go forward, I'm sure he would but judging by what has happened since last season, Azpi has clearly been told to stay back so that we always have enough numbers back and not totally disorganized when Ivanovic goes forward on the other side. Azpi is not playing on his natural side and seems like he's only allowed to go forward when the time is right. Otherwise, the license for a FB to go forward is with Ivanovic right now, not Azpi.

[Jase 43,479]

If he needs more support coming from the wings, it means he is not good enough doing that role.

You seriously can't expect a FB to defend alone like in 2 v 1 or even 3 v 1 situations and then complain that he doesn't do enough defensively in that position.