Cesar Azpilicueta signs new four-year contract with Chelsea which keeps him at the Stamford Bridge until 2022. The Spain international has captained the side in the Premier League and is only just two matches away to make it 300 appearances for Chelsea. It is a huge feat for the club and the player as he is only the seventh overseas player for Chelsea to reach that landmark.
After putting pen to paper Azpilicueta said, ‘I am really happy to extend my stay here at Chelsea. Since I came, I felt the joy and responsibility to play for this club, these fans, and every time I go on the pitch I try do my best. Hopefully, there is a lot to come and we can keep Chelsea where it belongs.’
Club director Marina Granovskaia also added to that: ‘Cesar is one of our longest-serving players and has proven to be a fantastic acquisition over the past six years. His professionalism and consistency in that time have been second to none and he has also developed into one of the squad’s most influential players.
‘This new contract will take Cesar to 10 seasons at Chelsea, and we hope that over the next four years he will be a key part of our success.’
The Spanish defender joined Chelsea in August 2012 shortly after Chelsea lifted their glorious Champions Trophy in Munich against the side from Bavaria. The 29-year old joined from the Ligue 1 just like Eden Hazard as the Spaniard joined from Olympique Marseille. Azpilicueta gradually established himself in the first team with his versatility and reliability in several positions on the Chelsea back-line. he inspired the Blues to lift another silverware as they won the Europa League in 2013.
Azpilicueta continued on his own merry way as he took over the first-team left-back Ashley Cole in the following season and also won the Chelsea Player of the Year. The Spanish defender who has scored eight times in these years has been a pivotal figure in defence which also lead to their Premier League triumph in 2014/15.
The Blues also lifted the League Cup that season and Azpilicueta made a huge contribution to the team’s success that season and added another two medals in his already star-studded trophy cabinet.
He also played as a right-sided defender in a defensive back three under Antonio Conte and played each and every minute in Chelsea’s glorious Premier League winning 2016/17 season. The only accolade left for him at West London was also added to his illustrious career after Chelsea won the FA Cup final against Manchester United last season.
Azpilicueta has been very consistent and has not missed a single minute in the Premier League this season as Maurizio Sarri and his men continue their push to the top of the table. Azpilicueta has been a key figure through the years and whenever needed he has even featured on his favoured left back position. The latest example of this was against Fulham in their latest fixture.
It will be exciting to see how Azpilicueta handles the side under the new manager, Maurizio Sarri as they lineup towards the business end of the season.
