WAIL CESAR
Azpilicueta: Conte has to do what is best for team.. including axing me
CESAR AZPILICUETA has revealed his demotion by Antonio Conte proves no one at Chelsea is untouchable.
The Spain defender was dropped to the bench for the game against Swansea last Wednesday. Before the 1-0 win, Azpilicueta had not missed a single minute of Premier League action for nearly two years.
For the first time since December 2015, he was on the bench – a run of 74 games and 6,660 minutes.
The 28-year-old said: “It was a nice run. I never thought about the amount of games I played in a row, all 90 minutes. But I would try to beat that mark, and I’m pleased for the number of games because I know it’s difficult.”
Speaking after Tuesday night’s Champions League draw at home to Atletico Madrid (right), Azpilicueta said: “I want to play every game but the manager makes the best decisions for the team. It was important we won (against Swansea).” Accepting a rest was necessary ahead of a busy festive programme, he said: “That’s what I mean. For that we have the manager, who sees the performance and the training.
“Sometimes he tries to make the best decision and, from that, all of us have to go in the same direction.”
Azpilicueta added his voice to that of Conte and team-mate Eden Hazard, both of whom have insisted Chelsea have no fear over facing Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona.
The Premier League champions are on course to meet one of the heavyweights in next week’s last-16 draw after finishing second in Group C.
He added: “The teams you could face, even by finishing first, are difficult. But it’s true that being first you play the second leg at home.
“Honestly, though, when you go into the last 16 of the Champions League, you have to face big, big teams and we have to show our level.”