Why Cesar Azpilicueta should be the new Chelsea captain

Cesar Azpilicueta has said he is ready to take up the mantle of Chelsea captain should the club call on him in the near future. With Gary Cahill out ill and John Terry on the bench against Spurs, Azpi stepped up to lead the side at Wembley, and did not disappoint.

JT is leaving in the summer, and the club will be on the lookout for a new captain, and it’s hard to deny Azpi is an obvious choice. There are plenty of other candidates, with Eden Hazard and David Luiz among them, but Azpi stands out as an exceptional choice for a number of reasons.

First his popularity, both within the club and without. This is not a prerequisite for a good captain, but in the modern game part of the captain’s role is to represent the club off the pitch. Cesar is well respected by fans other clubs, and is doubtless one of the more popular Chelsea players – not that that’s saying much. Within the dressing room he is well loved, and being able to speak French and Spanish, as well as good English, can only help him in his role as dressing room figurehead.

The second most important qualification that the defender has is his consistency, a vital characteristic for a captain. They need to be steady not only in their mindset and actions on the pitch, but also in their performances over the course of the season. A captain can’t be at risk of being dropped, or even putting in occasional bad showings. As one of the most consistent players in the Premier League, the former Osasuna man passes this test easily too.

The final qualification for a captain, and one that both John Terry and Gary Cahill have been able to capitalise on hugely, is a connection with the fans of the club. Eden Hazard is an outstanding player, the best in this current team by some distance, but the way he played last season and the way he is constantly linked to moves abroad will make some Chelsea fans uncomfortable with giving him such an honour. Azpi has been at the club for some time now, and has never shown anything less than 100% commitment and loyalty. Is there any better qualification for captain than that?

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