CROWN TO THE BARE BONES
Cesar backs call for fresh blood as champions face player crisis ahead of Spurs showdown...
CHELSEA defender Cesar Azpilicueta has backed Antonio Conte’s call for more quality signings.
The champions, left reeling by their shock home defeat to Burnley, go to Spurs on Sunday without skipper Gary Cahill and a string of key players. And, according to Azpilicueta (left), they do not have the necessary replacements for a match-up against the team that pushed them in the league last season. He said: “When you see the players we have lost and the players we have signed, they are not the same.”
Nemanja Matic, Oscar and John Terry have gone, while striker Diego Costa remains exiled. Conte has overseen the exit of 17 players this summer with just four senior stars signed.
Cahill also admitted the Blues’ squad was stretched last week in the wake of the club’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
The England defender was one of two players red-carded on Saturday, along with Cesc Fabregas. Eden Hazard is injured and, while Victor Moses and Pedro will be back to face Spurs, new £40million midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is not yet fit.
Azpilicueta added: “Obviously, we have very good young players, but we have to know the reality that being champions is even harder the next season – we have experience of that.
“So we need players. Also, for the development of the young players, they need help from senior players, from top players.
“Not to rush them in a position where maybe they are not ready to go at the moment, but they will be in the future.
“It is something the club is working on with the manager, and hopefully we can get new signings in the next few weeks.”
Conte refused to blame the way in which his side fell apart against Burnley on Saturday on the lack of signings.
The Blues boss said: “The club is trying its best in the transfer market. This is my squad and this is my team, and I want to fight with these players. The club is doing the work.”