César Azpilicueta

[kellzfresh 7,229]

This guy is our best leftback

[Barbara 15,149]

Rafa with Azpili

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

Rafa with Azpili

AKA your wet dream

[Barbara 15,149]

AKA your wet dream

not really... Rafa is my man in tennis, but poor thing isn't good looking, although sometimes he looks hot.

Azpili and Tomas Berdych though would make me ditch my boyfriend

[Sheva. 5,373]

I laugh whenever i see him playing. His creepy smile stuck in my mind forever.

Anyway he played good again. I thought he'd replace Ivanovic at RB, but since he's seemingly an untouchable, Azpi will have to make-do with games in various different positions.

[Jase 43,479]

Speaks volume about Cole's performance at LB when a makeshift RB playing in his position is playing better than him..

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Rafa with Azpili

Those have to be the WORST two smiles in one pic I've ever seen!

I laugh whenever i see him playing. His creepy smile stuck in my mind forever.

Anyway he played good again. I thought he'd replace Ivanovic at RB, but since he's seemingly an untouchable, Azpi will have to make-do with games in various different positions.

I don't think he would have started it Bertrand was fit.

[Barbara 15,149]

Those have to be the WORST two smiles in one pic I've ever seen!

I don't think he would have started it Bertrand was fit.

are you kidding me? Azpili's smile in that picture is doing things to me!

Rafa always smiles like a 3yo kid in pics, poor thing.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

are you kidding me? Azpili's smile in that picture is doing things to me!

Rafa always smiles like a 3yo kid in pics, poor thing.

Someone actually likes the "rape smile"?!!

Each to their own, I guess..

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Azpi just has that unfortunate pedo/rapist smile on him.

It's a shame Bertand didn't get the chance Azpi did tonight. Ivanovic is close to useless in attack.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Someone actually likes the "rape smile"?!!

I love his rape smile!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I love his rape smile!

Hey, I'm not here to judge...

[Sidzeret 2,257]

not really... Rafa is my man in tennis, but poor thing isn't good looking, although sometimes he looks hot.

Azpili and Tomas Berdych though would make me ditch my boyfriend

Thought you had the hots for Marchisio

[The_Flash 1,144]

not really... Rafa is my man in tennis, but poor thing isn't good looking, although sometimes he looks hot.

Azpili and Tomas Berdych though would make me ditch my boyfriend

Babs I have to disagree

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

Poor Cesar's thread has become camper than wearing a scarf and pink framed aviators in a hot summer day.

I feel he's worthy of a first team spot now, I love Ash but Cesar did really well, although I would still rather see him at right back, especially in games where we're expected to dominate possession. Iva is boss but his passing in the final third doesn't match his talent in the other aspects of his game.

[The Mak 4,459]

An article pitting Brana and Dave's stats against each other. Pretty much confirms a lot of people suspicions.

However, it again calls into question why Mourinho is so favourable towards Brana when his aerial ability is the only dominance he really has over Dave. And why Brana is given such liability going forward when it is clear who the better attacker is. Link below.

Azpilicueta is the better crosser of the ball, with 29% of his crosses finding a Chelsea player; only 16% of Ivanovic’s do the same. Considering that they both cross the ball with similar frequency, Ivanovic every 24 minutes and Azpilicueta every 25 minutes, it is clearly Azpilicueta who is the dominant footballer in this department....

Going on this analysis alone, he is clearly the better right-back in attack, with his passing, crossing and general creativity far superior to Ivanovic. He is also not a lot worse at defending; you could even make the argument that he is better, but what Ivanovic does have that the Spaniard doesn’t is incredible aerial ability. This is important not only in defence, but as an attacking threat from set-plays and there is no doubt that it would be missed were Azpilicueta to take his place.

http://eplindex.com/43776/azpilicueta-v-ivanovic-start-chelsea-stats-compared.html

[Jase 43,479]

Starting to think we are actually just playing Azpi at left back for the sake of it. Because, for whatever reason or rather Mourinho's untouchables, Ivanovic can't be dropped, Cole's been playing poorly or just too much, Bertrand not trusted and hence why we're playing Azpi there, just so he gets game time.

[Jase 43,479]

http://www.marca.com/2013/11/12/en/football/international_football/1384279767.html

César Azpilicueta is Mourinho's latest invention. At first the Spaniard had a hard time entering into the Portuguese manager's plans, but little by little he has earned himself a place in the Chelsea XI.

The player is a wild card for The Blues. He has played out on the right wing, at right back, and in the last two games has taken over what was Ashley Cole's position at left back. "I decided for Azpilicueta to play against Schalke, and he was fantastic. On Saturday against West Brom he was very good again" Mou pointed out.

The ex Osasuna and Marseille player is delighted with his new flexible role: "I'm playing more and more minutes, and feeling better. As long as I'm playing and am useful to the team, I'm happy. If needs be, I could play at left back all season", he commented to MARCA.

The position isn't totally alien to him: "When I played with Olympique I played there in several games. The automatic moves are the same as out on the right. The biggest handicap is that you don't have a way out with your good foot, but it's something I´m training on and it helps me get better."

Azpilicueta has seen three managers at the helm in Stamford Bridge - Di Matteo, Benítez and now José Mourinho. "Each manager has his own little book and the players, especially the new ones, need some time to adapt. The results aren't as good as we would like them to be, but I am sure that we will very soon improve", the Spaniard assured.

Talking about his own personal game, the instructions he receives from the ex-Real manager are precise: "He asks me to be more solid at the back, to not make mistakes and when I can, to join in the attack".