Cesar Azpilicueta has been an absolute giant for Chelsea down the years.
The captain is gradually losing his first team place to Reece James this season, but he still has a vital role to play in games like this – as he’s just proved.
He was getting a bit of stick for his performance in the first half from the endless moaners of the Twittersphere, but even in that cess-pit of negativity there was applause for his defending in this second period.
He used all of his experience and nous and expertise defending one on one to win the ball, then win a foul, just as the Spanish opposition came closest to opening us up.
“Azpi is still a top player man. Wow,” said one online fan. We couldn’t agree more.
You can see a selection of the reaction on social media in the Tweets embedded here:
https://twitter.com/matsobane_d/status/1334245037358637056
https://twitter.com/BenTweetsFooty/status/1334245105461571592
https://twitter.com/CFCTom_4/status/1334245119432781824
Azpi, being reliable as always. Captain. 👊💙
— LJ⭐⭐ (@KorChelseafan) December 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/Jeff_GK/status/1334245133366272001
AZPI AGAIN HES TOO GOOD
— bella (@bellacfc) December 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/NicoSulky/status/1334245169382760451
BRILLANT defending by captain azpi, always satisfies me, mr perfect.
— 👑Les Rois👑 (@johnnytest672) December 2, 2020
Azpi class
— IAN$ (@aaai_ian) December 2, 2020
dam that was azpi?
— Slobodan Dartafiwižjhak (@sonobrain) December 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/Chris_DK_CFC/status/1334231924328554497
Stop me if you've heard this before, Cesar Azpilicueta is a good defender#SEVCHE
— The Pride of London (@PrideOLondon) December 2, 2020
Azpilicueta's recovery after being dribbled is amazing. One of the best I've seen in recent years.
— habi (@habeelz) December 2, 2020
Azpilicueta 👏
— TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK) December 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/bmjc1996/status/1334245180623511553
Azpilicueta is class.
— M (@MountMason8) December 2, 2020
